Structural Health Monitoring: A Review

Abstract

The use of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is a key to achieve technological leaps in the
design and operation of engineering structures. Composite materials incorporating SHM
systems enable the design and manufacture of tailored smart structures. This paper focuses
on the application of SHM for various components including those in the maritime, oil and
gas, civil infrastructure and other industries as a means of highlighting the issues that is
faced by conventional methods. Incorporation of SHM has the potential to reduce throughlife costs by the adoption of Condition Based Maintenance and to reduce operating costs by
the design of more structurally efficient aircraft. The paper addresses the convenience
involved in the design, certification, manufacture and through life support of such structures.
Critical areas of development have been identified to enable the implementation of SHM in
future composite structures.