How can structural health monitoring (SHM) be integrated into aircraft structures for damage detection?

SHM integration approaches include: Sensor types - fiber optic (distributed strain sensing), piezoelectric (guided wave generation/reception), acoustic emission (crack growth detection), and comparative vacuum monitoring (surface crack detection); System architecture - embedded vs surface-mounted sensors, data acquisition and transmission, onboard vs ground processing; Applications - fatigue crack monitoring, impact detection, delamination growth tracking; Certification considerations - demonstrating equivalent safety to conventional inspection, sensor reliability and longevity, data interpretation algorithms; and Economic justification - reduced inspection burden, condition-based maintenance enabling. Current implementations include experimental fleet monitoring and research programs. Full certification requires extensive validation showing reliable damage detection with quantified POD comparable to visual/NDI methods.