Columbia’s strain sensors are for the most demanding strain and strain measurement requirements. The strain sensors use foil strain gauges built in a rugged housing and are thermally compensated. ColombiaThe sensors have a long history in military aircraft applications, having been fully qualified for military flight and FAA DO-160 qualified. Although the sensors have a long history in aerospace applications, they are intended for commercial aviation, structural monitoring, and railway stress monitoring.
Columbia Research Laboratories The strain sensor family provides more accurate monitoring of critical undercarriage structures and surfaces compared to accelerometer counting methods. In aviation applications, the use of direct strain measurement, in place of counting accelerometer methods, provides a more accurate representation of the fatigue load experienced by tactical aircraft under various conditions of speed, weight and mission configuration. Critical areas, such as undercarriage structures and control surfaces, can be more accurately monitored for potential fatigue damage induced by high-g maneuvers and high-stress landings.
The rugged, easy-to-install sensors open up new areas of opportunity for monitoring critical structures in commercial aircraft as well as high-performance military tactical aircraft. By combining strain sensors with level sensing and recording systems, a strain-related history can be maintained for structures or assemblies that may be damaged or abused during maintenance and overhaul operations, as well as to monitor the stress load encountered in normal flight operations. . The use of stress histories in conjunction with established SN (lifetime) curves for commonly used materials enables the development of safer and more cost-effective maintenance and overhaul programs through the application of end-of-life predictions. useful life.
