Elastic guided waves constitute a promising approach for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications involving composite structures. Guided-wave SHM systems are composed of a network of ultrasonic sensors, which are permanently attached to a structural component. Besides monitoring, the supplementary capability of the network nodes to exchange information across this mechanical wave-guide itself, represents an innovative...Read More

Carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) are widely used in lightweight marine structures due to their high strength and superior fatigue behaviour. In this paper, we will present an innovative methodology for simultaneous load and structural monitoring of a CFRP rudder stock as part of a big commercial vessel. Experimental results are presented here from a...Read More

This paper presents a novel approach for the detection of surface damage in metallic structures, where the electromagnetic waveguide forms a union with the structure to be inspected. The sensing concept in such jointed electromagnetic waveguides will be described here and measurement results will be presented using a hollow metallic waveguide on an aluminium sample....Read More

Hemispherical and cylindrical antenna arrays are widely used in radar-based and tomography-based microwave breast imaging systems. Based on the dielectric contrast between healthy and malignant tissue, a three-dimensional image could be formed to locate the tumor. However, conventional X-ray mammography as the golden standard in breast cancer screening produces two-dimensional breast images so that a...Read More

Abstract: Digital data communication, i.e. the transmission of discrete encoded information, is already pervasive, but possesses an ever-growing importance for everyday life in contemporary societies. The underlying physics can vary vastly, e.g., between fiber-optic communication and wireless mobile cellular networks. However, at least three unifying elements can clearly be identied, i.e. modulation, transmission and demodulation....Read More

I participated in the SHM in Action session as part of the 9th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring in Manchester (UK). An SHM demonstrator was presented there that shows the data communication capabilities of guided ultrasound waves. This additional feature might be exploited in future guided wave-based SHM systems. More information on this experiment...Read More

Sparse image reconstruction techniques represent an interesting approach towards improved damage localization in guided wave based structural health monitoring systems. A conference paper has been accepted as oral presentation at the 5th International Workshop on Compressed Sensing applied to Radar, Multimodal Sensing and Imaging (https://workshops.fhr.fraunhofer.de/cosera/).Read More

A paper related to recent developments in the B2-Monitor project has been accepted for publication in the Progress In Electromagnetics Research (PIER) journal (http://www.jpier.org/PIER/pier.php?paper=18021905). The article describes an imaging radar system for structural health monitoring (SHM) of wind turbine blades.Read More

I had the possibility to visit Dr. Frederic Cegla, Dr. Zahra Sharif Khodaei and Prof. Peter Cawley at Imperial College London. Our recent developments in the area of guided wave-based acoustic data communication have been presented in a group seminar setting. The title of the presentation was “Guided wave-based acoustic data communication in cylindrical and...Read More

About 130 researchers from all over Germany came together in Berlin in January 2018 to discuss the most recent advances in bat research (www.tdff.de). I have given a talk on the B²-Monitor project with the title “FMCW Radar System at Millimeter-wave Frequencies for the Detection of Bats at Wind Turbine Installations: Initial Results From a...Read More