Microsensors and MEMS for health monitoring of composite and aircraft structures in flight

Microsensors and Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) are currently being applied to the structural health monitoring of critical aircraft components. The approach integrates acoustic emission, strain gauges, MEMS accelerometers and vibration monitoring devices with signal processing electronics to provide real-time indicators of incipient failure of aircraft components with a known history of catastrophic failure due to fracture.