Overview
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technologies have acquired a significant relevance during the last two decades, and it is referred as one of the key issues in long-term R&D aeronautic plans.
Significant theoretical and practical improvements have be en attained, but how to apply these technologies to existing or new projects is still unclear for many engineers and industry decision-makers.
Some reasons for this delay among existing knowledge and its industrial applications are:
- The multidisciplinary aspect of the technology;
- The lack of basic teaching materials;
- Lack of hands-on experience;
- Few demonstrations on real structures.
The objective for this Project was to get the experts prepared for the European and other industries to be able to design and manage SHM systems and structural health of engineering structures in the future. A matching network of experts from European universities and research institutions, selected by their technical competence and teaching experience, prepared an intensive (40 hours) Lectures Series, covering all theory and techniques relevant to the understanding and handling of SHM. Laboratory and demonstration activities were included such that participants gain hands-on experience in the main techniques addressed.
The project started on 1st October 2006, lasting for 3 years. Seven Lecture Series have been held during this Project. 170 people, coming from universities (70%) and industries (30%) have attended the courses.
Funding
Results
- The Course material, exceeding 1 200 pages, has been continuously updated. It was distributed to the Courses attendees, and is available as CD format.
- The Course has continued to be given twice a year after the finalisation of the project, running in a self sustained basis.
- A book entitled: 'New Trends in Structural Health Monitoring', W. Ostachowicz, A. Güemes (Eds.), has been recently published by Springer (2013 ).