• A system for guided wave based online monitoring of rheology changes, damages and defects in a structure using selectively exposed embedded acoustic waveguide sensors, comprising of:
• one waveguide sensor embedded into the inter-laminar region of a composite structure, one end of the embedded waveguide is protruded out from the structure,
• a coating surrounding the waveguide coating prevents leakage of waves into the surrounding structure and ensures one dimensional plane wave generation and energy distribution inside the structure through much longer distance;
• one sleeve opening on the waveguide sleeve receives reflections of wave energy from various places inside the structure;
• one probe attached to a pulser receiver, converts the electrical energy from the pulser receiver to mechanical vibrations using a piezoelectric crystal, which is transmitted into the waveguide in the form of ultrasonic waves.

Method:

• Guided Wave-Based Online Monitoring of Structure Rheology
• Generates guided ultrasonic wave modes using an ultrasonic transducer.
• Transmits these modes along the waveguide, interacting with the structure.
• Recorded reflected wave signals using an ultrasonic transducer and instrumentation.
• Detects crack/delamination in the structure by calculating wave energy leakage and reflection.
• Determines the location of crack/delamination by calculating the time of flight of reflected wave signals.