GB2442389A

GB2442389A - Verifying the location of structural damage by detecting acoustic emissions

Info

Publication number: GB2442389A
Application number: GB0800279A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Mcgregor Stothers; Andrew Dargle
Original assignee: Ultra Electronics Ltd
Current assignee: Ultra Electronics Ltd
Priority date: 2004-07-15
Filing date: 2004-07-15
Publication date: 2008-04-02
Anticipated expiration: 2024-07-15
Also published as: GB0800279D0; GB2442389B

Abstract

The location of a source of an acoustic emission AE in a structure (especially an aircraft) is determined by detecting acoustic emissions from a region of structural damage with a plurality of acoustic sensors and processing the detected emissions using a model characterising the effects of acoustic paths within the structure. The model data is determined by artificially inducing different types of acoustic emission events at a grid of known locations on the structure and detecting the induced acoustic emissions. The determined location of an earlier acoustic emission may be confirmed by inducing acoustic emissions with a moveable acoustic emission source at positions in the region of the determined location. Damage to the structure may be correlated with mode of use of the structure by acquiring operation parameters relating to the use of the structure. A system and method for simulating acoustic emissions with various acoustic emission signatures is also disclosed.

Description

VERIFYING STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN A STRUCTURE

The present invention generally relates to a system and method to monitor for structural defects in structures on the basis of acoustic emission from such defects.

Stress corrosion and fatigue in structures causes crack growth. This is due to the metal slowly becoming brittle when there is a concentration of stress within a short distance of the crack tip. The crack then advances to a zone boundary in a series of discrete microfracture events, where the microfractures can take place either intergranularly or transgranularly. Tougher undamaged material at the zone boundary stops the crack advancing. The cycle of cracking is then repeated, starting again with a concentration of stress at or near the crack tip.

Under normal operating conditions, damage such as cracking in a structure develops slowly over time. However, if the structure is operating outside its normal range, a large amount of damage may occur within a short time. In addition, damage caused by stress to a structure is not limited to cracking and may also include fretting, pitting and rubbing. It is therefore essential that structures be monitored regularly so that damage may be detected and repaired, or further damage prevented if the damage is not advanced.

Cracking and fracturing is known to cause particular problems in aircraft, pressure vessels and oiirigs, as well as in large sLructuies such as bridges. As cracking occurs, the cracks produce bursts of acoustic energy as wideband ultrasonic emissions in the structure where the cracking is taking place, known as acoustic emissions. The properties of the waveform of the acoustic emissions, such as t values representing the differences between the times that bursts of acoustic energy are received at different locations, frequency, amplitude, rise time etc are dependent on the size of the crack and how rapidly it propagates through the structure. Therefore cracks can be identified by their acoustic emission signature, which can be detected using acoustic sensors as acoustic emission sensors.

US 2003/0140701, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses a method of detecting and monitoring damage in a structure by receiving electrical signals continuously over a period of time as pulses representing a biirst of acoustic energy from a plurality of acoustic sensors carried by the structure. The bursts of acoustic energy represent emissions from sites of damage. The burst is processed to obtain a smoothed envelope waveform. Wave-shape information and time information is determined and stored for each burst. If a burst is detected at three or more sensors, the difference in the time of arrival of the bursts at the sensors is determined as At values. The At values are then used to accumulate the bursts to determine if a threshold for the bursts is exceeded. If so, the burst data is stored to represent structural damage together with non-acoustic parameters.

However, there is a limitation in this system. When the health of a structure and structural damage is monitored by acoustic emission techniques, errors can occur in the analysis of the data using the system due to the assumption that the speed of sound in structures is uniform in all directions and there is a single mode of acoustic propagation though the structure. However, the speed of sound varies with the thickness and type of material through which the sound is propagating. The speed of propagation of acoustic waves will therefore vary as they propagate through an inhomogeneous structure.

One aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure. The model is built by inducing acoustic emissions at many positions in the structure and by detecting the acoustic emissions using a plurality of acoustic emission sensors that are arranged on the structure.

In this aspect, the model takes into account inhomogeneities of the structure, as well as differences in acoustic propagation modes in the structure, so that errors in the locatjon of the damage sites can be reduced.

The model can store any of differences in times of arrival of the acoustic emissions at the sensors, wave-shape information, emission durations, amplitudes of the acoustic emissions and rise times of the acoustic emissions. The model also stores position information, which can be for example information on x, y and z coordinates (or coordinates in any other convenient coordinate system) for a three dimensional structure, for respective acoustic emission data for positions. The model can also store different information for different types of acoustic emissions corresponding to different types of damage.

In one embodiment, the process for determining the model involves an optimisation process whereby it is determined whether all of the positions can be uniquely identified i.e. whether acoustic emissions are received at three or more sensors to allow triangulation. If not, the optimisation process involves moving a sensor to a position not uniquely identified or placing a new sensor at such a position. Once an array of sensors is determined that enables all positions to be uniquely identified, an optimisation algoritFm can be used to determine the optimum number and positions for the sensors.

In one embodiment of the invention, the model can be supplemented or adapted by the addition of data obtained during use of the model. Additional model data can be obtained from additional positions, which are interspersed between the original model positions by inducing acoustic emissions at these additional positions, and detecting and processing the emissions.

In another aspect of the invention the model characterising the effect of acoustic paths is incorporated in a method and system for locating a site of structural damage, for example cracking, fretting or rubbing in a structure in order to reduce errors in the location of acoustic emissions, and thus the location of the site of structural damage compared with the prior art methods which assume structural homogeneity.. Acoustic emissions are detected from the site of structural damage at several acoustic emission sensors arranged on the structure. A data processing system is used to process the detected acoustic emissions using the model characterising the effects of the acoustic paths. As the model takes account of the non-uniformity of acoustic paths caused by structural inhomogeneities, errors in the determined location of the site of structural damage can be reduced compared to the prior art method.

Another aspect of the invention provides a system and method for correlating structural damage to a structure, as indicated by acoustic emission data detected by sensors placed in the structure, with modes of structure use that caused the damage. This aspect of the present invention can be used in any structure, such as a static structure e.g. a bridge or oil rig, or moving machinery such as a motorised staionary machine or a vehicle. The invention has particularl application for detecting damage in vehicle structures such as aircraft and correlating the damage with causal modes of vehicle operation. Results of the correlation can be output and presented in a form that is useful to operators such as pilots or drivers and maintenance personnel either during operation or after operation.

The system can provide in-flight information to pilots relating to them that at a particular time they were performing a manoeuvre structural damage was caused at a particular location in the aircraft structure. This system and method can also be used with a model characterising acoustic paths, which reduces errors associated with inhomogeneities in the vehicle structure.

A system and method for confirming a site of structural damage in a structure using an acoustic emission source is provided in another aspect of the invention. The acoustic emission source is used to induce acoustic emissions at the site of damage, which has already been detected using fixed location sensors to detect acoustic emissions emitted by the damage. The induced acoustic emissions are received by the sensors and the acoustic emission source is moved until the induced acoustic emissions are substantially concurrent with the acoustic emissions originally detected from the damage. This indicates that the acoustic emission source has confirmed the site of damage.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the deieeed acoustic emissions cail be processed using a model characterising acoustic paths to further improve the results confirming where in the structure the damage is located.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, the acoustic emission source can be adapted to emit different types of acoustic emission, by for example varying the frequency, duration, amplitude and/or rise time of the acoustic waves emitted by the source. Each type of damage has an acoustic emission signature, comprising details such as wave-shape, frequency, duration amplitude and rise time. The signatures are unique to each type of damage so damage can be characterised by simulating its corresponding acoustic emission signal using the source in the region of the damage and comparing the detected acoustic emissions from the source with the acoustic emissions detected from the structural damage.

In one embodiment, to provide operator feedback, an audible or visible output is generated dependant upon the proximity of the two detected positions in order to guide the operator to move the source to the site of structural damage.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a system and method for simulating acoustic emissions generated from structural damage in a structure. A set of acoustic emission data from a plurality of regions of structural damage is acquired to obtain a set of acoustic emission signatures associated with each of the plurality of regions. An acoustic emission source is then adapted to emit each acoustic emission signature. Thus in this aspect an acoustic emission source can be tuned to emit the required signature to simulate damage.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a system and method for verifying structural damage in a region of interest in a structure, the damage having been recorded in a database for a plurality of locations. The system and method comprises inducing acoustic emissions in the region of interest in the structure using an acoustic emission source; detecting the acoustic emissions induced at the region of interest; identifying the location of the region using the detected acoustic emissions; and determining all recorded locations of damage recorded in the database using the identified location of the region.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a system and method for correlating a site of structural damage in structure with causal modes of structural operation or use.

The system and method comprises detecting acoustic emissions from the site of structural damage in a structure at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged in the structure; processing the detected acoustic emissions to locate the structural damage; acquiring structural operating parameters from thestructure; processing the structural operating parameters to determine the mode of structure use; correlating the structural damage with the determined mode of structure use to determine a causal mode of structure use; recording the site of structural damage as a first position and the determined causal mode of structure use; inducing acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of the first position in the structure using an acoustic emission source; receiving the acoustic emissions induced at the second position; determining the second position using the received acoustic emissions; moving the acoustic emission source until the determined second position is substantially concurrent with the first position in the structure to confirm the location of the structural damage; and outputting information on the confirmed location of the structural damage and determined causal mode of structure use.

Another aspect of the present invention provides a method and system for determining a site of structural damage in a structure. A plurality of acoustic sensors detect acoustic emissions from the site of structural damage on the structure. A data processing system processes the detected acoustic emissions using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of predetermined positions on the structure and the acoustic sensors to determine a first approximate position of the structural damage, wherein the first predetermined position lies on one of the predetermined positions. An acoustic emission source induces acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of said first position in the structure. The sensors detect the acoustic emissions induced at the second position. The data processing means processes the detected acoustic emissions using the model to determine the second position using the received acoustic emissions, and compares the processed acoustic emissions from the structural damage with the processed acoustic emissions from the acoustic emission source to determine if the second position is the site of structural damage.

In one embodiment of this aspect of the invention, if the comparison does not determine that the second position is the site of structural damage, the acoustic emission source is repeatedly moving and the inducing, detecting and processing steps are repeated to determine the second position until the second position is determined to be the site of structural damage.

In one embodiment, a direction to move the acoustic emission source is determined using the model. A direction indicator can output to an operator to assist in the location of the site of structural damage.

Any aspect of the present invention can be used in Conjunction with any other aspect and thus the present invention encompasses a method and system using any combination of the aspects briefly outlined above.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front schematic view of the front spar of an aircraft wing between the fuselage and the first engine with acoustic emission sensors attached.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of data acquisition and processing system of the prior art.

Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus used to build a model of acoustic paths in a structure according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram of the process used to build a model of acoustic paths in a structure according to the first embodiment of the invention.

Figures 5A and SB are schematic views of points at which acoustic emission is induced in a structure for building a model of acoustic paths in the structure.

Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of an acoustic integrity monitoring system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the front spar of an aircraft wing with acoustic emissions sensors acoustically coupled to detect damage.

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram of an acoustic integrity monitoring system for correlating structural damage to an aircraft with causal modes of aircraft operation according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a flow diagram of a method for correlating structural damage to an aircraft with causal modes of aircraft operation.

Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of an acoustic integrity monitoring system for use in confirming a site of structural damage according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a flow diagram of a method used to confirm a site of structural damage.

Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of an acoustic integrity monitoring system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 13 is a flow diagram of a method of checking a region of structural damage in an aircraft structure to correlate the structural damage with events causing the structural damage.

Although the present invention can be used on any structure, it has been found to be particularly useful when used for detecting structural damage on aircraft structures, where structural failures can be catastrophic. It has been found that damage such as cracking occurs at points of stress on an aircraft.

Referring now to Figure 1, this shows a schematic diagram of an arrangement for locating a site of damage on a typical aircraft structure by detecting acoustic emissions from the site of damage. The aircraft wing has an upper spar cap 101, a lower spar cap 102, a front spar 103, and cross-sectional stiffeners 104. The front spar 103 has reinforcing ribs 107 running vertically at spaced intervals. A fuel aperture 105 is provided on the inside of the front spar 100 and acoustic emission sensors 106 are acoustically coupled to the front spar 103 at several positions.

The illustrated part of the wing 100 is the section of the aircraft wing between the aircraft fuselage and the first engine. The vertical strut 103 supports the upper spar cap 101 and the lower spar cap 102 and the cross-sectional stiffeners 104 add stiffness to the structure of the wing and provide added strength to the front spar 103. The acoustic emission sensors 106 detect acoustic emissions originating from the source of damage on the front spar 103. The acoustic emission sensors are piezoelectric transducers with a resonant frequency in the range of the resonant frequency of the structure under investigation. In aluminiwn structures, transducers with resonant frequencies of around 200-300 kHz are suitable. The sensors 106 are attached to the structure of the front spar 103 by means of cable ties and self-adhesive bases. In addition, a sealant is used as a joining compound between the base of the sensor and the structure in order to provide a low attenuation acoustic coupling.

Differences in the time of arrival (st) of features, such as the leading edges of acoustic emission signals from sources of damage on the structure of the front spar 103 at the sensors 106 or the times of the peak signals from each sensor are used by a triangulation algorithm in analysis software to locate the source of the acoustic emission and therefore the damage. Although the surfaces of modem aircraft structures tend to be substantially homogeneous, discontinuities in the structure result from components in the interior of the structures, for example the vertical struts 103, the cross-sectional stiffeners 104 and the fuel aperture 105. Older aircraft also have surface discontinuities, since their structures consist primarily of riveted and bolted extruded or machined aluminium sections and plates.

For example, the discontinuities and Inhomogeneities in the structure of the front spar will cause an acoustic path from point A to point B shown in Figure 1 to be non-uniform, as the acoustic transmission speed will change as it propagates through the structure. This leads to errors in it in the triangulation algorithm, which in turn leads to errors in the location of the site of damage on the aircraft structure.

A schematic diagram of a system 110 for detecting and acquiring acoustic emission data from a structure is shown in Figure 2. This system is known in the art and a similar system is described in US 2003/0140701. A sensor Ill is coupled to a preamplifier 113, which is connected to a data acquisition unit 112. The data acquisition unit 112 comprises a logarithmic amplifier 114 and a pulse processor unit 115. The data acquisition unit 112 is connected to a computer 116.

Acoustic emissions from sites of damage on the structure are detected by sensors 111, which comprise the acoustic emission sensors 106 placed on an aircraft structure as shown in Figure 1. The sensors 111 are acoustically coupled to the aircraft structure and can be, for example, a piezoelectrjc sensor with a resonant frequency in the range from 20 kI-lz to 2 MHz. Any damage such as cracking on an aircraft structure will emit acoustic waves with a fundamental frequency equal to the resonant frequency of the structures. The resonant frequency of the sensor should therefore be the same as that of the structure being investigated. Typically aluminium aircraft structures have a resonant frequency in the region of 300 kHz, so this is the preferred frequency of sensor to use for detecting acoustic emissions from an aircraft structure. In practice the sensors generally have a bandwidth of a few hundred kI-Iz and sample acoustic data at 15 MHz.

The preamplifier 112 is located in the vicinity of the sensor. There is an array of sensors and preamplifiers having N channels, each channel having one sensor Ill and one preamplifier 113. When calculating the t values of acoustic emissions, at least three sensors are required for triangulation. The sensors are acoustically coupled to the structure in spaced apart locations. Each sensor 111 is connected to the data acquisition unit 112 for acquiring and processing acoustic emission data from acoustic emission pulses.

The sensors 111 and preamplifiers 113 are connected to the data acquisition unit 112.

The distance between the sensors 111 and the data acquisition unit 112 is installation dependant. In practice, when detection of acoustic emissions takes place from an aircraft structure, the data acquisition unit 112 is located within the avionics bay of the aircraft and is powered from the aircraft's power supply.

There will be background noise from sources such as the aircraft engines that will interfere with acoustic emission signals from the aircraft structure. The data acquisition unit 112 conditions the acoustic emission signals received at the sensor 111 and performs real time filtering and signal processing to isolate acoustic emissions from background noise and produce acoustic emission data that can be used to locate a source of damage on the aircraft structure. The signal received at the sensor takes the form of a wave packet. In each channel the logarithmic amplifier 114 rectifies the signal received from the preamplifier 112. The rectified signal then enters the pulse processor unit 115, which converts the acoustic emission signals received at the sensor 111 to digital signals, filters the digital signals and isolates the digital signals in order to distinguish acoustic emissions received from damage on the structure from background noise.

The digital signals from each channel take the form of pulses, which are analysed by a computer 1 16 using a triangulation algorithm. Each sensor 111 is generally at a different distance from the site of damage, which means that acoustic emission signals from the damage will reach each sensor at a different time. The location of the damage can be identified by measuring the difference in times of arrival between sensors (st) and using acoustic velocity information for each sensor Ill. This process is known as triangulation. However, triangulation assumes a homogeneous structure and a uniform speed of sound in all directions in the structure, so there will be errors in the location of the damage as calculated by this method. Therefore, this method of locating damage may not provide the exact location of the damage.

An improvement on the known system involves incorporating a model of acoustic paths into the system for locating damage. A first embodiment comprising a method and system for building a model of acoustic paths will now be described with reference to Figures 3, 4, 5A and 5B. Figure 3 shows apparatus 200 used for building a model of acoustic paths. Acoustic emissions are induced at positions 132 in a structure 131.

Sensors 133 are acoustically coupled to the structure 131 and connected to a data acquisition unit 223. The sensors 133 and data acquisition unit 223 are of the same configuration as those shown in Figure 2 and the data acquisition 223 unit comprises the same components as the data acquisition unit 112 shown in Figure 2. The data acquisition unit 223 is connected to a computer 224 comprising an acoustic emission data store 225, a model data store 226 and a program store 227.

Figure 4 is a flow diagram showing the steps involved in building the model and Figures 5A and SB are schematic diagrams of points in a structure at which acoustic emissions are induced and detected to build the model of acoustic paths.

In step Si of Figure 4 a medium dense array of sensors is fitted to the structure. This is illustrated in Figure 5A, where an array of sensors 133 is acoustically coupled to the surface of a structure 13 1. The structure 131 can be the aircraft wing front spar 100 shown in Figure 1. This initial arrangement can be chosen based on an informed guess or based on information from the aircraft manufacturer on the acoustic properties of the aircraft. In step S2 of Figure 4 acoustic emissions are induced at a grid or array of positions 132 in the structure so that positions 132 have acoustic emission signatures associated with them. The spacing or density of the positions can be selected as appropriate. The greater the density of the positions; i.e., the more closely they are spaced, the more accurate the damage position location will be. However, a close spacing of positions of induced acoustic emissions leads to a greater computation requirement so an appropriate spacing of around 10 cm between each point is used in this example. The positions of the sensors 133 on the structure 131 is the same as the positions on the structure where acoustic emissions are induced; i.e., sensors are placed at positions on the grid. However, the number of sensors 133 in the array can be considerably less than the nwnber of points 132. In a preferred embodiment acoustic emissions are induced at a dense array of points in a grid pattern. The acoustic emissions can be induced by a Hsu-Neilson source (snapping a 2H pencil lead against the structure) or by a source adapted to emit frequencies equal to a resonant frequency of the structure. The acoustic emissions are most practically generated by moving the source sequentially to the positions. However, multiple sourees can be used fo sequential emissions at any number of the positions.

The acoustic emission signatures from points 132 are detected by the sensors 133 and acoustic emission data is collected and processed by the data acquisition unit 223 shown in Figure 3, which comprises the apparatus shown in Figure 2 and described above.

Acoustic paths are considered reciprocal i.e. the time taken for an acoustic wave to travel between positions is the same in both directions. The reciprocity of acoustic paths is used to determine at which points on the structure to put sensors so they are able to uniquely identify acoustic emissions from damage at any point on the structure.

If the locations of the sensors 133 and the locations of the positions 132 are then reversed, it follows that the sensors when placed in the locations of the points 132 will be able to uniquely identify acoustic emissions from any point on the structure. This means that all positions 132 are potential source locations. If all positions can be uniquely identified, an optimisation algorithm can be used to determine whether any sensors 133 can be moved or removed.

In step S3 it is determined whether the acoustic emission signatures collected by the sensors 133 can uniquely identify all positions 132 of acoustic emission. If it is determined that all points of acoustic emission can be uniquely identified, at step S5 the optimum positions to place the minimum possible number of sensors can be found by an optimisation process. A database representing a three-dimensional map of acoustic paths between the points 132 and the sensors 133 is obtained. This can be achieved by using a triangulation algorithm to obtain the At values from all points 132 to all sensors 133. The best configuration on the structure for the array of sensors and minimum number of sensors tomeet the criteria; i.e., to uniquely identify all locations of structural damage is then found by methods well-known in the art, for example as genetic algorithms or simulated annealing.

The determined minimum number of sensors 133 are then moved to their new positions, which are the optimum determined points 132 (step S6). A verification process (step S7) then takes place to check that the sensors in the optimum determined positions can uniquely identify all positions of acoustic emission on the structure that are required to be detected. Acoustic emission is induced by acoustic emission sources at a dense array of positions 132 on the structure and the acoustic emission signatures from the points are collected by the sensors 133. If the sensors 133 can uniquely identify the acoustic emission signatures from all areas of the structure that are required to be detected (step S8), then the optimised model is valid and the optimisation process is complete.

However, if acoustic emission signatures from all areas of the structure that are required to be detected cannot be uniquely identified, then the process must return to step S2 and carry out steps S2 to S6 until the collected signatures can uniquely identify all positions of acoustic emission. This is determined at S8 by analysing data stored in the acoustic emission data store 225 using analysis software in the program store 227. If at S8 the position of the sensors for uniquely identifying all positions of acoustic emission, then model data defining the acoustic path data is stored in the model data store 226. Model data includes it values for acoustic paths between all positions 132 and wave-shape information. The model data store 226 can comprise model data from different sources of acoustic emission, corresponding to different types of damage such as cracking, delamination, fretting and rubbing.

The acoustic emissions are detected by the sensors 222, where they are filtered and processed by pre-amplifiers, logarithmic amplifiers and pulse processor units in the data acquisition unit 223 to obtain acoustic emission data, which is then stored in the acoustic emission data store 225 located in the computer 224. The apparatus for filtering and processing acoustic emissions is shown in Figure 2. Analysis software in the program store 227 then analyses the acoustic emission data stored in the acoustic emission data store 225 to determine whether all positions can be uniquely identified (step S3 and step S8).

If the sensors 133 cannot uniquely identify all positions 132 then a sensor is added or moved from a region of the structure that is already well covered by sensors to a region 134 that is more sparsely covered, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B and step S3 in Figure 3. Steps S2, S3 and S4 should be repeated until the sensors can uniquely identify all positions 132. When all points 132 on the structure have been uniquely identified and the sensors 133 are placed in the positions where they can uniquely identify the points, the model is complete at step S3. However, it is desirable for reasons of cost and practicality to use the minimum number of sensors possible for uniquely identifying acoustic emissions and to place them in the optimum positions for maximum coverage of the structure.

The model data obtained using this technique can include differences in times of arrival of the acoustic emissions, duration, wave-shape information such as amplitude, and power for each path from a position and also for multiple signatures i.e. multiple emission sources simulating multiple types of damage. The model thus models the effect of the acoustic paths on the emissions generated by the structural damage i.e. the way the acoustic paths delay the emissions and change their wave-shape.

In order to build the model to include signatures for different types of damage for each position, the acoustic emission source needs to be able to simulate the acoustic emissions of various types of damage. In one embodiment of the invention, the acoustic emission source can be adapted to do this by a method of detecting a signature that has come from a known type of damage at a known location (the determination of the location may require inspection subsequent to the occurrence of the damage, or the location method of the second embodiment of the present invention could be used). The wave-shape information can thus be recorded for the damage and the acoustic emission source can be adapted e.g. iteratively until is generates an acoustic emission signature that matches. This method can be repeated for a plurality of known types of damage at a plurality of locations to enable a library of emission characteristics necessary for the emission source to generate signatures that simulate damage at a region. The emission source can then be used to generate different signatures at each position to populate the model with path information for different acoustic signature.

The model of acoustic paths can be used to find the location of structural damage in a structure. A second embodiment for locating emissions from the sites of structural damage will now be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. Figure 6 shows a system 134 for locating a site of structural damage in a structure. An array of sensors 136 is acoustically coupled to a structure 135, in which damage 137 is to be monitored.

The sensors 136 are connected to a data acquisition unit 138 that is connected to a computer 139. the computer 139 includes an acoustic emission data store 146, a model data store 145 and a program store 146. The sensors 136 are used as acoustic emission sensors to detect acoustic emissions from the damage 137 in the structure 135. Acoustic emissions detected by the sensors 136 are filtered and processed by the data acquisition unit 138 to obtain acoustic emission data. The data acquisition unit 136 comprises the same filtering and processing components as the data acquisition unit 112 shown in Figure 2. Each acoustic emission that takes place in the structure 135 has a it value associated with it for each sensor from the array of sensors 136 that detects it, as well as an amplitude, duration and a rise time. Acoustic waveforms detected at the sensors 136 are received by the data acquisition unit 138, which logs the time of arrival of the leading edge of the wavefonns received at the sensors 136 and filters Out waveforms not having the characteristic acoustic emission frequency of the structure. This results in a set of acoustic emission data that has undergone a first stage of filtering and is stored in the acoustic emission data store 148 located in the computer 139. The difference between times of arrival of the acoustic waveforms at the sensors 136, At is calculated using an algorithm stored in the program store 146. A matrix of acoustic emission data including At values, amplitudes, durations and rise times is then accumulated in the acoustic emission data store 148 for each acoustic signature; i.e., the acoustic waveform received at each of the sensors 136 from each point of acoustic emission in the structure 135. Every time an acoustic event with a certain At value, amplitude, duration and rise time occurs, it is logged as an event at a point on the matrix associated with that particular At value, amplitude, duration and rise time. Each point on the matrix will have a At value, amplitude, duration and rise time associated with it for every sensor in the array 136. Points on the matrix having many logged events will correspond to regions of structural damage, as they indicate many acoustic emissions with the same At values, amplitude, duration and rise time are occurring in the same region of the structure. The accumulation uses At values to plot regions of damage according to the differences in times of arrival of the events. The accumulation process allows for the aggregation of events by At values until a threshold is reached at which point it is considered that damage has occurred. The model is used to map the At values for the accumulated data to positions on the structure by comparing the At values with the At values stored in the model.

As an alternative method for processing the acoustic emission data, instead of accumulating the At values in order to identify significant events relating to the occurrence of damage and the mapping the At values for the accumulated data to position coordinates using the model, At values for each detected event can be mapped to position coordinates using the model and the events can be accumulated in spatial coordinates to determine significant events. This has the advantage of reducing errors in the spatial location of individual events but brings with it a higher processing overhead.

There are at least three sensors in the array 136 but in practice the number of sensors is usually considerably greater. Therefore each point on the matrix may have many At values associated with it, which could result in a very large accumulated data set that would require a great deal of memory to be used at the acoustic emission data store 148.

To reduce the amount of data that is required to be stored in the acoustic emission data store 148, a threshold value is set for the number of events occurring at each point on the matrix. Only when the threshold value is reached are the At values, amplitude and rise time recorded for the event for the threshold event in the acoustic emission data store 148. The previous events below the threshold value are disregarded. The matrix is then cleared, stored in a secondary matrix and then built again until the required set of acoustic emission data is acquired. An alternative method of reducing the amount of recorded data is to narrow down the area of the matrix, as there are likely to many acoustic events occurring in a small area of the matrix corresponding to a localised area of structural damage.

This method gives an indication of the region on the structure in which there is structural damage. However, as previously discussed there are errors in the location of the position of structural damage at this stage, due to inhomogeneities in the structure leading to triangulation errors when calculating At values. The acoustic emission data stored in the acoustic emission data store 148 is then mapped onto model data obtained from the model of acoustic paths in the previous embodiment that is stored in the model data store 145. In the model of acoustic paths, the sensors are placed on the points of acoustic emission found using the reciprocity of acoustic paths. Therefore, when the acoustic emission data is mapped onto the model data, the points of acoustic emission originating from structural damage can be located without triangulation errors, as the inhomogeneity of the acoustic paths has already been taken into account.

An example of how the system for locating a site of structural damage in a structure could be used is shown in Figure 7. Sensors 144 are acoustically coupled to a front spar cap 141 of the front spar of an aircraft wing 140 around a hole 142 in the front spar cap into which a crack 143 is spreading. The sensors 144 detect acoustic emissions originating from the crack 143. Acoustic emission data acquired from the crack 143 can then be mapped using the model of acoustic paths to locate the site of the crack. Even though the crack is inside the hole 142, the site of the crack can be located because the model of acoustic paths is three-dimensional and works for acoustic emissions originating from any point in a structure.

The above-described method and system of detecting structural damage can be used to provide a method and system for correlating structural damage with causal modes of structural operation or use. A mode of structural operation or use is defined as a manoeuvre being performed by or on a structure in accordance with a set of operational parameters associated with the structure. For example, when applied to an aircraft, the operational parameters can include centre of gravity, acceleration, air speed, altitude, heading, aircraft location, pitch angle, roll angle, weight on wheels, flight surface positions, strain, temperature, andlor load. A mode of operation can be landing, pulling steeply out of a dive or a banking manoeuvre with high gravitational acceleration, for

example.

A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 8 and 9. Figure 8 shows an apparatus 150 for correlating structural damage with causal modes of aircraft operation. An array of sensors 142 is acoustically coupled to the aircraftstructure 143 and connected to a data acquisition unit 151, the components of which are shown in Figure 2. The data acquisition unit 151 is connected to a computer 152, which comprises an acoustic emission data store 156, a model data store 153 for storing the model of acoustic paths built using the method shown in Figure 3, a program store 154 and an aircraft operation data store 155. Aircraft operation data sources, for example strain gauges, are connected to a data acquisition system 157, which inputs data into the computer 152. An output 159, for example a display, outputs data from the computer 152.

Figure 9 is a flow diagram of the process for correlating structural damage with causal modes of aircraft operation. Structural damage is detected (Step S 10) in the aircraft structure by the sensors 142, which record acoustic emissions originating from the location of the structural damage. The acoustic emissions are then filtered (Step 511) to obtain acoustic emission data that is isolated from background noise on the aircraft.

Filtering of the acoustic emissions is a two-stage process. First stage filtering is performed by signal processing apparatus in the data processing unit 151, which comprises the signal processing apparatus shown in Figure 2. The signal processing apparatus selects certain At values and peak amplitudes that are normally associated with acoustic emissions from the acoustic waveforms received at the sensors 142 and filters out waveforms not having the characteristic acoustic emission frequency of the structure. Second stage filtering is performed by analysis software in the program store 154 by accumulating a spatial map of At values, amplitudes, durations and rise times of acoustic emission events for each waveform received at the sensors 142. Alternatively, filtering can take place by accumulating a spatial map of acoustic emission events, comprising information on At values, amplitudes, durations and rise times of the waveforms, in the first instance, then frequency filtering an accumulation of At values rather than At values obtained from individual acoustic paths. When acoustic emission data has been obtained by filtering acoustic emission events, it is then mapped onto model data stored in the model data store 153 and stored (step SS123) in the acoustic emission data store 156.

Aircraft operation data is obtained from the aircraft operation data sources 158 and acquired at the acquisition system 157 (step SI 3). Aircraft operation data sources are sources of data about aircraft operation parameters and can be, for example, altimeters or strain gauges. The aircraft operation data is processed by the computer 152 and stored in the aircraft operation data store 155 (step S 14). The aircraft operation data is obtained, acquired and processed in time synchronisation with the acquisition of acoustic emission data while the aircraft is in operation (step Si 5). The acoustic emission data from the acoustic emission data store 156 and aircraft operation data from the aircraft operation data store 155 is then analysed using analysis software stored in the program store 154 to correlate which of one or more modes of aircraft operation are taking place, determined from the aircraft operation data, as structural damage identified by the acoustic emission data is occurring (step S 16). The correlation process produces a matrix of aircraft operation modes and related damage. One or more modes of aircraft operation are then identified as a cause of structural damage (step S 17) and data is ten provided to the output 159 indicating that one or more modes of aircraft operation caused identified structural damage to the aircraft (step SI 8).

The present invention can be used on any structure but it works particularly well on aircraft, where structural damage caused by stress is potentially catastrophic. For example, the output 159, which can be visible or audible for example, can be used as to warn pilots during flight that they have just performed a manoeuvre with the aircraft that has caused structural damage and advise where the structural damage is located.

Warning pilots could take place by adapting the output 159 to be a display panel for displaying information indicating the modes of aircraft operation taking place when structural damage occurred, the location of the structural damage and possibly the result of the damage on the aircraft's structure and/or performance. The pilot can then decide whether to modify his behaviour and change the mode of aircraft operation to contain the damage based on the warning. Alternatively, or in addition, there can also be a system provided for receiving the output 159 and preventing the pilot from performing the particular manoeuvre that caused identified structural damage to the aircraft.

The output 159 can also or alternatively be used to brief maintenance crew or flight crew on the ground that a mode of aircraft operation has taken place that caused identified structural damage to the aircraft. The maintenance crew can then use information from the output 159 to check the identified location of the damage. The output 159 can be the output used by the pilot, or the maintenance crew can couple a device to the output to receive the output information.

A method and system of a fourth embodiment of the present inveniion for coiiflrmutg a source of structural damage in a structure will now be described with reference to Figures 10 and 11. Figure 10 shows a system 170 for confirming a source of structural damage. The system comprises sensors 173 acoustically coupled to a structure 171.

The sensors are connected to a data acquisition unit 175, as shown in Figure 2 and described above. The data acquisition unit 175 is connected to a computer 176. An acoustic emission source 174 is provided to generate acoustic emissions in the aircraft structure 171.

Figure 11 shows a flow diagram representing a method for confirming a source of structural damage in a structure. Acoustic emissions are initially detected from a region of damage 172 by known methods and the position of the acoustic emissions is recorded. In this embodiment the prior art method such as that described with reference to Figure 2, or the method of the second embodiment can be used. The damage information is recorded for example during use. At a maintenance time, the acoustic emission source 174 is then used to induce acoustic emissions in the region of structural damage 172 (step S20). The induced acoustic emissions are detected by the sensors 173 (step S21) and filtered and processed by the data acquisition unit 175 by known methods to obtain acoustic emission data. The acoustic emission data is then analysed by the computer 176 in real time and the position on the structure of the induced acoustic emissions is detennined (step S22). An output is then generated dependent on the positional relationship between the detected acoustic emission position and the induced acoustic emission position (step S23). It is possible to plot the position of the induced acoustic emissions. The computer can then produce a plot on the screen 179 showing the relative positions of the induced acoustic emissions and the original detected acoustic emission signal. Alternatively or in addition an audible output can be generated indicating that the induced acoustic emissions are in the proximity of the original detected signal. The position of the induced acoustic emissions is represented by the dot 177 and the position of the original detected acoustic emission signal is represented by the dot 178. If it is determined that the position of the induced acoustic emissions is substantially concurrent with the region of the structure in which acoustic emissions have already been detected (step S24) then this is the position on the structure where the structural damage is located and the source of the structural damage is confirmed (step S26). If the screen 179 is used then ìie location of the structuIai damage will be confirmed when the dot 177 overlaps with the dot 178.

However, if it is determined at S24 that the position of the induced acoustic emissions and the region of the structure in which acoustic emissions have already been detected are not substantially concurrent then the acoustic emission source is moved to a different position on the structure (step S25). Steps S20 to S24 are then repeated until the position on the structure where the structural damage is located is confirmed. In this way a closed-loop method for locating the source of structural damage and considerably reduce errors in the location of the damage is provided. Therefore it is not necessary to use the model of acoustic paths to spatially correct the acoustic emissions originally detected from the region of the damage. However the model may be used to narrow down the region in which acoustic emissions are required to be induced by the acoustic emission source.

The computer 176 which is used to control the acoustic emission source 174 and analyse the resulting data can be connected to the data acquisition unit 175 via a communications link. The communications link could either be wired or wireless. A wireless link would enable the computer 176 and the acoustic emission source 174 to be used in less accessible locations.

The acoustic emission source can be a source that is adapted to move over the structure in the x y, and z directions in order to home in on the structural damage. The computer 176 can generate an audible tone that increases in pitch as the source homes in on the damage so that the user of the system can locate the damage without looking at a display.

Unlike a Hsu-Neilson source, which can only be used once, the source used as the acoustic emission source in this embodiment is capable of repeatedly inducing acoustic emissions in a structure.

In addition, the acoustic emission source is also capable of generating a range of signals with different rise times, amplitudes, durations and frequencies in order to simulate different types of damage in a range of materials. Therefore, oiice the position of ti-ic structural damage has been confirmed, the source can then be used to characterise the damage by simulating acoustic emissions in the region of the damage. For example, acoustic emissions associated with cracking could be simulated at the tips of a crack on a structure. The data obtained from a position of structural damage in this way can then be used to correlate acoustic emission activity originating from the position of structural damage on a vehicle structure with causal modes of operation to provide real time correlation data that can be used during operation.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the acoustic emission source is used to confirm the location already determined by the system. If a model of the acoustic paths is not used, the position indicated by the system may be incorrect due the lack of homogeneity of the structure. However, the same process is performed on the induced acoustic emission and thus the same error occurs. Thus even though the system indicates to an operator to place the source in a position, when the source induces acoustic emissions at the indicated position, because of the position determination error, the detected position will not be correct and the signature will not match the signature from the damage. Thus in this embodiment the use of the emission source enables the correct position to be determined by moving the source until the positions detected are concurrent.

If the embodiment uses the model to correct for inhomogeneities in the structure, the above described positional errors will not occur. However, the model only includes data for discrete positions and hence using the model only an approximate location for the damage can be given corresponding to a position. For example, if the model is built by using acoustic emission positions in the array which are spaced 10cm apart, the determined location of the damage will be given as one of these positions and has an error of 5cm.

Thus in one embodiment the acoustic emission source can be used not simply to confirm the location but instead to more accurately locate the damage. In this embodiment, the source is positioned at the determined approximate location of the damage. The detected emissions from the source are then processed and compared with the processed detections for the damage. The source eati Lhcii be moved until the processed detections e.g. t values match. This gives an accurate location of the damage which is an interpolated position to the positions in the model.

In this embodiment the detected emissions from the source can be used to enhance the model. If the position of the source is known, the processed detections for the known positions can be used to populate the model at additional positions intermediate the original model positions. This increases the ability of the model to provide more accurate damage locations in the regions of previously detected damage. Thus after the maintenance personnel have performed the damage location, the next time the structure is used, the ability to accurately locate damage using the model in the region of previous structural damage is improved.

The model can also be used to assist the maintenance crew in the location of the damage location using the approximate location provided from use of the model. In the model there are processed parameters for each position. Thus an approximate damage location will have processed parameters e.g. M values for surrounding positions. The it values for the approximate location (corresponding to one position) and for surrounding positions can be used to determine tt gradients by extrapolation between the positions.

By comparison of the gradients with the t values for the emissions from the source, the direction of movement of the source can be determined to assist in the rapid location of the accurate location of the site of damage.

A fifth embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 12 and 13. Figure 12 is a schematic diagram of a system for checking a region of structural damage in an aircraft to correlate the structural damage with operational modes causing the structural damage. An array of sensors 203 are acoustically coupled to an aircraft surface 201. The sensors are connected to a data acquisition unit 205. The data acquisition unit 205 is connected to a computer 206, which comprises an acoustic emission data store 212, a program store 207 and an aircraft operation data store 210.

The aircraft operation data store 210 receives data from the acquisition system 209, which is connected to the aircraft operation data sources 208. An acoustic emission source 204 is provided which is capable of generating acoustic emissions. An output device 211 is provided to output correlation information to air crew or ground stalL A flow diagram of the process carried out by the system in Figure 12 is shown in Figure 13. Acoustic emissions are received by the sensors 203 from a region of structural damage 202 (step S30). The acoustic emissions undergo filtering and processing in the data acquisition unit 205, using the apparatus shown in Figure 2, and acoustic emission data is obtained and stored in the acoustic emission data store 212. The position of acoustic emissions on the structure is given by the acoustic emission data and recorded in the acoustic emission data store 212 (step S31).

Aircraft operation data is obtained from the aircraft operation data sources 208 and acquired by the acquisition system 209 (step S32).Aircraft operation data sources are sources of data about aircraft operation parameters and can be, for example, altimeters or strain gauges. The aircraft operation data is processed by analysis software in the program store (207) located in the computer 206 and stored in the aircraft operation data store 210 (step S33). The aircraft operation data is obtained, acquired and processed in time synchronisation with the acquisition of acoustic emission data, while the aircraft is in operation. The acoustic emission data from the acoustic emission data store 212 and aircraft operation data from the aircraft operation data store 210 is then analysed using analysis software in the program store 207 (step S34) to correlate structural damage 202 with one or more modes of aircraft operation (step S35).

The acoustic emission source 204 is then used to induce acoustic emissions in the region of the structural damage 202 as determined from the received acoustic emissions from the region (step S36). The induced acoustic emissions are detected by the sensors 203), filtered and processed by the data acquisition unit 205 using known filtering and processing apparatus illustrated in Figure 2. The acoustic emission data is analysed by the computer 206 using analysis software stored in the program store 207 in real time and the position on the structure of the induced acoustic emissions is determined (S37).

An output device 211 then generates an output dependant upon the positional relationship between the detected acoustic emissions for the structural damage and the induced acoustic emissions (step S38). If the position of the indueed acoustic emissions is substantially concurrent with the region of the structure in which acoustic emissions have already been detected (step S39) then this is the position on the structure where the structural damage is located and in step S41 an output is generated on the output device 211 to indicate this. The maintenance crew are thus able to confirm the damage position by inspection e.g. a visual inspection to validate the process. If the positions are not substantially concurrent (step S39), the source 204 is moved to a new position (step S40) and the process returns to step S36 to repeat the location confirmation.

A method for defining an area of the structure and correlating the structural damage with causal modes of vehicle operation is therefore provided. The source is used to define the x, y and z extents of the area of interest e.g. by inducing acoustic emission signals at either ends of the lower spar cap. This area could be defined before or after the in-flight acoustic emission data has been captured. The area may be defined even before the damage has occurred. It is not necessary to use the model of acoustic paths to spatially filter the acoustic emissions originally detected from the region of the damage but errors in the determined position of structural damage can be reduced further if the model is used. This method can be used with any structure but is particularly useful for locating structural damage in aircraft, where damage can be catastrophic.

In addition the damage can be characterised by using the source to simulate different types of damage with varying degrees of severity, for example fretting, cracking and rubbing in the located source of the damage. This means that as well as indicating that one or more modes of aircraft operation caused structural damage to an aircraft, for example the output 211 can also provide information indicating which particular mode or modes of aircraft operation cause a certain type of structural damage. This is particularly useful, as it can provide a means for assessing the severity of structural damage that performing a certain aircraft manoeuvre is likely to cause.

The output 211 can be used as to warn pilots during (or after) flight that they have performed a manoeuvre with the aircraft that has caused structural damage to the aircraft and advise that the structure of the aircraft has been compromised as a result.

Warning pilots could take place by adapting the output 211 to be a display panel for displaying information indicating the modes of aircraft operation taking place when a certain type of structural damage occurred, the location of the structural damage and the result of the damage on the aircraft's structure and/or performance. The pilot can then decide whether to modify his behaviour and change the mode of aircraft operation to contain the damage based on the warning. Alternatively, there can also be a system provided for receiving the output 211 and preventing the pilot from performing the particular manoeuvre that caused identified structural damage to the aircraft.

The output 211 can also be used to brief maintenance crew or flight crew on the ground that a mode of aircraft operation has taken place that caused identified structural damage of a particular type andlor severity to the aircraft. The maintenance crew can then use the information from the output 211 to check the identified location of the damage. The flight crew can use the information to modify their flying behaviour during the next flight.

This embodiment can also be used with the model of acoustic paths to further increase the accuracy in the detected location of the site of structural damage.

Thus one aspect of the invention provides the advantage of locating a site of structural damage in a structure that takes into account the effects of structural inhomogeneities that lead to errors in calculation of At values, the variation of the speed of propagation of acoustic waves in inhomogeneous structures and the different modes of acoustic propagation.

Another aspect of the present invention provides the advantage that the cost of the system may be reduced by using an optimised sparse array of sensors to detect acoustic emissions from the structural damage 137.

Yet another advantage of an aspect of the present invention is that it can provide information to vehicle operators that structural damage has occurred to a vehicle, as well as an indication of the location of the damage and that a particular mode of vehicle operation caused the structural damage.

Although the present invention has been described hereinabove with reference to specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and modifications will be apparent to a skilled person in the art which lie within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, in the third embodiment, the system and method for correlating structural damage with causal modes of structure use is not limited to employing a model of acoustic paths for spatially filtering acoustic emissions detected from a structure. Any of the embodiments described hereinabove can be used in any combination.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to an aircraft structure, the present invention is applicable to any engineering structure, including static structures such as bridges and oil rigs. In such static structures a mode of operation comprises a mode of use e.g. loading on a bridge or drilling operations performed on an oil rig.

Although in the embodiments the acquisition system and the computer for analysing the data are shown as separate units, the can of course be combined or their function provided by any combination of units. The acquisition system can be implemented either in software or hardware.

Claims

1. A method of confirming a source of structural damage in a structure where said structural damage has been detected by receiving acoustic emissions at a plurality of sensors and recording a first position in the structure from which the acoustic emissions are received, the method comprising: inducing acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of said first position in the structure using an acoustic emission source; detecting said acoustic emissions induced at said second position; determining said second position using the received acoustic emissions; and moving said acoustic emission source until said determined second position is substantially concurrent with said first position in the structure.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein said first position is determined using the steps of: detecting acoustic emissions from said site of structural damage at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on said structure; and processing the detected acoustic emissions using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions on said structure and said acoustic sensors to locate said structural damage; wherein the model includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said processing includes locating and identifying structural damage using the model data.

3. A method according to Claim i or 2, whcieiii said second position is determincd using the steps of: detecting acoustic emissions from said site of structural damage at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on said structure; and processing the detected acoustic emissions using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions on said structure and said acoustic sensors to locate said structural damage; wherein the model includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said processing includes locating arid identifying structural damage using the model data.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said induced acoustic emissions are of a first type to simulate a first type of damage, further comprising comparing said recorded acoustic emission data with said detected acoustic emissions when said first and second positions are substantially concurrent to determine if the recorded acoustic emissions correspond to damage of a first type, inducing acoustic emissions of a second type to simulate damage of a second type and repeating the comparison if it is determined that the damage is not of the first type.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, including generating an audible or visible output indicating the proximity of the first and second positions.

6. A system for confirming a source of structural damage in a structure, where said damage has been detected by receiving acoustic emissions and recording a first position on the structure from which the acoustic emissions are received, the system comprising: an acoustic emission source for inducing acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of said first position; a plurality of sensors for receiving said acoustic emissions induced at said second position; a data analysis system for determining said second position using the received acoustic emissions; means for moving said acoustic emission source untii said deteimined second position is substantially concurrent with said first position in the structure; and an output device for generating an output indicating the proximity of the first and second positions.

7. A system according to Claim 6, further comprising: a data processing system for processing acoustic emissions detected by said sensors using data defining a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions in said structure and said acoustic sensors; wherein said model data includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said data processing system is adapted to locate and identify structural damage using the model data

8. A system according to Claim 6 or 7, wherein said acoustic emission source is adapted to induce acoustic emissions of a first type to simulate a first type of damage, said data analysis system is adapted to compare said recorded acoustic emission data with said detected acoustic emissions when said first and second positions are substantially concurrent to determine if the recorded acoustic emissions correspond to damage of a first type, said acoustic emission source is adapted to induce acoustic emissions of a second type to simulate damage of a second type if it is determined that the damage is not of the first type, and said data analysis system is adapted to repeat the comparison.

9. A system according to any one of Claims 6 to 8, wherein the output device is adapted to generate an audible or visible output.

10. A method of verifying structural damage in a region of interest in a structure, said damage having been recorded in a database for a plurality of locations, the method comprising: inducing acoustic emissions in the region of interest in the structure using an acoustic emission source; detecting said acoustic emissions induced at said region of interest; identifying the location of the region using the detected acoustic emissions; and determining all recorded locations of damage recorded in said database using the identified location of the region.

11. A method of building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure, the method comprising: inducing a plurality of types of acoustic emissions at a plurality of positions on said structure; detecting said acoustic emissions using at least three sensors arranged on said structure; processing the detections for each type of acoustic emission for each position to determine model data characterising effects on each type of acoustic emission from each position of acoustic paths between said positions and said sensors; and storing said determined model data.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said acoustic emissions are induced at each position sequentially.

13. The method of claim ii or claim 12, wherein said induced acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions at each position.

14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein said model is for use in identifying structural damage in a structure, and said acoustic emissions are induced in one or more regions where structural damage is likely.

15. The method of any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the determined said model data comprises at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, emission duration, wave-shape information, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions.

16. The method of any one of claims 11 to 15, further comprising determining whether the acoustic emissions from each position enable each position to be uniquely identified and only storing said determined model data if the acoustic emissions enable each position to be uniquely identified.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising adding sensors to said structure andlor moving at least one of said sensors from a first position on said structure to a second position on said structure if each position cannot be uniquely identified, and repeating the inducing, detecting and processing steps until each position can be uniquely identified.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17, further comprising determining optimised positions for said sensors.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising repeating the inducing detecting and processing steps when said sensors are in said determined optimised positions and only storing said determined model data if the acoustic emissions enable each position to be uniquely identified.

20. The method of claim 18 or claim 19, wherein the determined optimised positions enable said sensors to still uniquely identify said positions even if up to a predetermined number of sensors fail.

21. The method of any one of claims 11 to 20, including adding to said model data by inducing acoustic emissions at one or more additional positions interspersed said positions, detecting said acoustic emissions using said sensors, processing the detections to determine additional model data and storing said additional model data in said model data.

22. A method of building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure, the method comprising: inducing acoustic emissions at a plurality of positions on said structure; detecting said acoustic emissions using at least three sensors arranged on said structure; and determining whether the acoustic emissions from each position enable each position to be uniquely identified, and if so processing the detections to determine model data characterising effects of paths between said positions and said sensors and storing said determined modei data.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said acoustic emissions are induced at each position sequentially.

24. The method of claim 22 or claim 23, further comprising adding sensors to said structure andlor moving at least one of said sensors from a first position on said structure to a second position on said structure if each position cannot be uniquely identified, and repeating the inducing, detecting and determining steps until each position can be uniquely identified.

25. The method of any one of claims 22 to 24, further comprising determining optimised positions for said sensors.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising repeating the inducing detecting and determining steps when said sensors are in said determined optimised positions.

27. The method of any one of claims 22 to 26, wherein said induced acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions at each position.

28. The method of any one of claims 22 to 27, wherein said model is for use in identif'ing structural damage in a structure, and said acoustic emissions are induced in one or more regions where structural damage is likely.

29. The method of any one of claims 22 to 28, wherein the determined model data comprises at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions between said sensors, emission duration, wave-shape information, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions.

30. The method of any one of claims 22 to 29, wherein said inducing step comprises inducing a plurality of types of acoustic emissions at each position, said processing step comprises processing said detections for each type of acoustic emission for each position, and said storing step comprises stoiing data characterising each type of acoustic emission from each of said plurality of positions in said model data.

31. The method of any one of claims 22 to 30, including adding to said model data by inducing acoustic emissions at one or more additional positions interspersed said positions, detecting said acoustic emissions using said sensors, processing the detections to determine additional model data and storing said additional model data in said model data

32. A method of building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure, the method comprising: inducing acoustic emissions at a plurality of positions on said structure; detecting said acoustic emissions using at least three sensors arranged on said structure; processing the detections to determine model data characterising effects of acoustic paths between said positions and said sensors; storing said determined model data; and adding to said model data by inducing acoustic emissions at one or more additional positions interspersed said positions, detecting said acoustic emissions using said sensors, processing the detections to determine additional model data and storing said additional model data in said model data.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said acoustic emissions are induced at each position sequentially.

34. The method of claim 32 or claim 33, wherein said induced acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions at each position.

35. The method of claim 32 or claim 34, wherein said model is for use in identifying structural damage in a structure, and said acoustic emissions are induced in one or more regions where structural damage is likely.

36. The method of any one of claims 32 to 35, wherein the determined model data comprises at least one of differences in times of aixivai of said acoustic emissions between said sensors, emission duration, wave-shape information, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions.

37. A system for building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure, the system comprising: an inducing arrangement for inducing a plurality of types of acoustic emissions at a plurality of positions on said structure; at least three sensors for detecting said acoustic emissions; a data processing system for processing detections by said at least three sensors for each type of acoustic emission for each position to determine model data characterising effects on each type of acoustic emission from each position of acoustic paths between said positions and said sensors; and a data store for storing said determined model data.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce said acoustic emissions at each position sequentially.

39. The system of claim 37 or claim 38, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce said acoustic emissions as bursts of acoustic emissions at each position.

40. The system of any one of claims 37 to 39, wherein said model data is for use in identifying structural damage in a structure, and said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce acoustic emissions on one or more regions where structural damage is likely.

41. The system of any one of claims 37 to 40, wherein said data processing system is configured to determine said model data comprising at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, emission duration, wave-shape information, amplitude of said acoustic emissions and rise time of said acoustic emissions.

42. The system of any one of claims 37 to 41, wherein said data processing system is configured to determine whether the acoustic emissions enable each of said plurality of positions to be uniquely identified and to only siore said determined model data in said data store if the acoustic emissions enable each position to be uniquely identified.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein at least one said sensors is adapted to be individually moveable from a first position to a second position if it is determined by said data processing system that each of said plurality of positions cannot be uniquely identified.

44. The system of claim 42 or claim 43, wherein said data processing system is adapted to determine a minimum number of said sensors that can uniquely identify each of said plurality of positions, and to determine sensor optimum positions for said minimum number of sensors.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein said data processing system is adapted to determine the optimised positions and number of sensors to enable said sensors to still uniquely identify said positions even if up to a predetermined number of sensors fail.

46. The system of any one of claims 37 to 45, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce acoustic emissions at one or more additional positions interspersed said positions, said sensors are adapted to detect acoustic emissions from said additional positions, and said data processing system is adapted to process the detections to determine additional model data and add said additional model data to said model data in said data store.

47. A system for building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure, the system comprising: an inducing arrangement for inducing a plurality of types of acoustic emissions at a plurality of positions on said structure; at least three sensors for detecting said acoustic emissions; a processing system for determining whether the acoustic emissions from each position enable each position to be uniquely identified, and if so processing the detections to determine model data characterising effects of paths between said positions and said sensors and storing said determined model data.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce said acoustic emissions at each position sequentially.

49. The system of claim 47 or claim 48, wherein at least one said sensors is adapted to be individually moveable from a first position to a second position if it is determined by said data processing system that each of said plurality of positions cannot be uniquely identified.

50. The system of any one of claims 47 to 49, wherein said data processing system is adapted to determine optimised positions for said sensors.

51. The system of any one of claims 47 to 50, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce said acoustic emissions as bursts of acoustic emissions at each position.

52. The system of any one of claims 47 to 51, wherein said model data is for use in identifying structural damage in a structure, and said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce acoustic emissions on one or more regions where structural damage is likely.

53. The system of any one of claims 47 to 52, wherein said data processing system is configured to determine data comprising at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, emission duration, wave-shape information, amplitude of said acoustic emissions and rise time of said acoustic emissions.

54. The system of any one of claims 47 to 53, wherein said inducing means is adapted to induce a plurality of types of acoustic emissions at each position, said data processing system is adapted to process said detections for each type of acoustic emission for each position, and to store data characterising each type of acoustic emission from each of said plurality of positions in said model data.

55. The system of any one of claims 47 to 54, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce acoustic emissions at one or inure udditioiiai positions interspersed said positions, said sensors are adapted to detect acoustic emissions from said additional positions, and said data processing system is adapted to process the detections to determine additional model data and add said additional model data to said model data.

56. A system for building a model of the effect of acoustic paths in a structure, the system comprising: an inducing arrangement for inducing a plurality of types of acoustic emissions at a plurality of positions on said structure; at least three sensors for detecting said acoustic emissions; a data processing system for processing the detections to determine model data characterising effects of acoustic paths between said positions and said sensors; and a data store for storing said determined model data; wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce acoustic emissions at one or more additional positions interspersed said positions, said sensors are adapted to detect said acoustic emissions from said additional positions, and said data processing system is adapted to process the detections to determine additional model data and storing said additional model data in said model data.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce said acoustic emissions at each position sequentially.

58. The system of claim 56 or claim 57, wherein said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce said acoustic emissions as bursts of acoustic emissions at each position.

59. The system of any one of claims 56 to 58, wherein said model data is for use in identifying structural damage in a structure, and said inducing arrangement is adapted to induce acoustic emissions on one or more regions where structural damage is likely.

60. The system of any one of claims 56 to 59, wherein said data processing system is configured to determine said model data comprising at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, emission duration, wave-shape information, amplitude of said acoustic emissions and rise time of said acoustic emissions.

61. A method of locating a site of structural damage in a structure, the method comprising: detecting acoustic emissions from said site of structural damage at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on said structure; and processing the detected acoustic emissions using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions on said structure and said acoustic sensors to locate said structural damage.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the processing comprises comparing processed parameters determined from the detected acoustic emissions with the model.

63. The method of claim 61 or claim 62, wherein said acoustic emissions are processed to determine at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emission duration, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions; and said mode! comprises at least one of differences of times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emission duration, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions for each position.

64. The method of any one of claims 61 to 63, further comprising storing acoustic emission data obtained by said processing of the detected acoustic emissions.

65. The method of any one of claims 61 to 64, wherein said model includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said processing includes locating and identifying structural damage using the model data.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said model includes wave-shape information for different types of structural damage, and said processing includes determining wave-shape information for the detected acoustic emissions and comparing the determined wave-shape information with the model to identify the structural damage.

67. The method of any one of claims 61 to 66, wherein said acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein said processing includes accumulating bursts having similar time of arrival properties, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar time of arrival properties, determining a location of origin of the bursts and the structural damage using the model and generating an indication of structural damage.

69. The method of claim 67, wherein said processing includes determining a location of origin of each burst using the model, accumulating bursts having similar locations of origin, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar locations of origin, generating an indication of structural damage.

70. The method of any one of claims 61 to 69, further comprising determining and storing physical data on the structure when acoustic emissions are detected.

71. A system for locating a site of structural damage in a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of sensors for detecting acoustic emissions from said site of structural damage; and a data processing system for processing acoustic emissions detected by said sensors using data defining a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions in said structure and said acoustic sensors.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the data processing system is adapted to compare processed parameters determined from detected acoustic emissions with the data defining the model.

73. The system of claim 71 or claim 72, wherein said data processing system is adapted to process said acoustic emissions detected by said sensors to determine at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emission duration, ampiiudes of said acoastic emissions and risc times of said acoustic emissions; and said model comprises at least one of times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions for each position.

74. The system of any one of claims 71 to 73, further comprising a store for storing acoustic emission data obtained by said processing of the detected acoustic emissions.

75. The system of any one of claims 71 to 74, wherein said model data includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said data processing system is adapted to locate and identify structural damage using the model data.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein said model data includes wave-shape information for different types of structural damage, and said data processing system is adapted to determine wave-shape information for the detected acoustic emissions and compare the determined wave-shape information with the model data to identify the structural damage.

77. The system of any one of claims 71 to 76, wherein said acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions, said data processing system is adapted to accumulate bursts having similar time of arrival properties, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar time of arrival properties, to determine a location of origin of the bursts and the structural damage using the model data, and to generate an indication of structural damage.

78. The system of any one of claims 71 to 76, wherein said acoustic emissions comprise a burst of acoustic emissions, said data processing system is adapted to determine a location of origin of each burst using the model data, to accumulate bursts having similar locations of origin, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar locations of origin, to generate an indication of structural damage.

79. The system of any one of claims 71 to 7, further comprisiiig au anangement for determining and storing physical data on the structure when acoustic emissions are detected.

80. A method of correlating structural damage to a structure with causal modes of structure use, the method comprising: detecting acoustic emissions from a site of structural damage at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on said structure; processing said acoustic emissions to determine structural damage; acquiring operating parameters from the structure; processing said operating parameters to determine a mode of use of the structure; correlating the structural damage with the determined mode of use of the structure to determine a causal mode of structure use; and outputting information on the correlated structural damage and determined causal mode of structure use.

81. The method of claim 80, including storing the information during use of the structure, wherein the information is output after operation of the structure.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein the information is output to a user of a structure during use of the structure.

83. The method of claim 82, further comprising preventing the user from performing a further said causal mode of structure use.

84. The method of any one of claims 82 to 83, further comprising storing said information and generating a maintenance output at the end of a period of use of the structure to indicate to a maintenance crew that a particular maintenance operation is required as a result of structural damage resulting from the causal mode of structure use.

85. The method of any one of claims 80 to 84, wherein the detected acoustic emissions are processed using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions in the vehicle structure and said acoustic sensors.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the processing comprises comparing

processed parameters determined from the detected acoustic emissions with the model.

87. The method of claim 85 or claim 86, wherein said acoustic emissions are processed to determine at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emission duration, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions; and said model comprises at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emission duration, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions for each position.

88. The method of any one of claims 85 to 87, further comprising storing acoustic emission data obtained by said processing of the detected acoustic emissions.

89. The method of any one of claims 85 to 88, wherein said model includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said processing includes locating and identifying structural damage using the model data.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein said model includes wave-shape information for different types of structural damage, and said processing includes determining wave-shape information for the detected acoustic emissions and comparing the determined wave-shape information with the model to identify the structural damage.

91. The method of any one of claims 85 to 90, wherein said acoustic emissions comprise a burst of acoustic emissions.

92. The method of claim 91, wherein said processing includes accumulating bursts having similar time of arrival properties, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar time of arrival properties, determining a location of origin of the bursts and the structural damage using the model and generating an indication of structural damage.

93. The method of claim 92, wherein said processing includes determining a location of origin of each burst using the model, accumulating bursts having similar locations of origin, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar locations of origin, generating an indication of structural damage.

94. The method of any one of claims 80 to 93, including defining a region of interest on said structure, wherein the output information on the correlated structural damage and determined causal mode of structure use relate only to said region of interest.

95. The method of claim 94, wherein said processing and correlation steps are only performed for structural damage in said region of interest.

96. The method according to claim 94 or claim 95, wherein said region is defined by inducing emissions in the region of interest in the structure using an acoustic emission source, detecting said acoustic emissions induced in said region of interest, and identifying the location of the region using the detected acoustic emissions.

97. A system for correlating structural damage to a structure with causal modes of structure use, the system comprising: a plurality of sensors for detecting acoustic emissions from a site of structural damage; at least one structure operation data source for acquiring structure use parameters from the structure; a data processing system for processing said acoustic emissions to determine structural damage and said structure use parameters to determine a structure use mode and for correlating the structural damage with the determined structure use mode to determine a causal mode of structure usen; and an output device for outputting information on the correlated structural damage and determined causal mode of structure use.

98. The system of claim 97, including a data store for storing the information during use of the structure, wherein said output device is adapted to output the information after operation of the structure.

99. The system of claim 97, wherein said output device is arranged to output the information to a user of the structure during structure use.

100. The system of claim 99, including an arrangement for preventing the user from performing a further said causal mode of structure use.

101. The system of claim 99 or claim 100, including a data store for storing said information, wherein said output device is adapted to generate a maintenance output at the end of a period of use of the structure based on said stored information to indicate to a maintenance crew that a particular maintenance operation is required as a result of structural damage resulting from the causal mode of structure use.

102. The system of any of claims 97 to 101, wherein the data processing system is adapted to compare processed parameters determined from detected acoustic emissions with model data characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of positions and said acoustic sensors.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein said data processing system is adapted to process said acoustic emissions detected by said sensors to determine at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emissions duration, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions; and said model data comprises at least one of differences in times of arrival of said acoustic emissions at said sensors, wave-shape information, emission duration, amplitudes of said acoustic emissions and rise times of said acoustic emissions for each position.

104. The system of claim 102 or 103, further comprising a store for storing acoustic emission data obtained by said processing of the detected aousic enissions.

105. The system of any one of claims 102 to 104, wherein said model data includes data identifying different types of acoustic emissions and corresponding types of structural damage, and said data processing system is adapted to locate and identify structural damage using the model data.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein said model data includes wave-shape information for different types of structural damage, and said data processing system is adapted to determine wave-shape information for the detected acoustic emissions and compare the determined wave-shape information with the model data to identify the structural damage.

107. The system of any one of claims 102 to 106, wherein said acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions, said data processing system is adapted to accumulate bursts having similar time of arrival properties, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar time of arrival properties, to determine a location of origin of the bursts and the structural damage using the model data, and to generate an indication of structural damage.

108. The system of any one of claims 102 to 106, wherein said acoustic emissions comprise bursts of acoustic emissions, said data processing system is adapted to determine a location of origin of each burst using the model data, to accumulate bursts having similar locations of origin, and when a threshold is reached for a group of bursts having similar locations of origin, to generate an indication of structural damage.

109. The system of any one of claims 97 to 108, including means for defining a region of interest on said structure, wherein said output device is adapted to output the information on the correlated structural damage and determined causal mode of structure use to relate only to said region of interest.

110. The system of claim 109, wherein said data processing system is adapted to only process said acoustic emissions to determine structural damage in said region of interest.

111. The system according to claim 109 or 110, wherein said means for defining said region of interest comprises an acoustic emission source for inducing emissions in the region of interest in the structure, said sensors are adapted to detecting said acoustic emissions induced in said region of interest, and said data processing system is adapted to identify the location of the region using the detected acoustic emissions.

112. A method of simulating acoustic emissions generated from structural damage in a structure, the method comprising: acquiring acoustic emission data from a plurality of regions of different types of structural damage to obtain at least one acoustic emission signature associated with each of said types of structural damage; and adapting an acoustic emission source to generate appropriate acoustic emissions at each said region to generate each respective acoustic emission signature.

113. The method of claim 112, wherein said acquisition step is performed sequentially for different types of structural damage.

114. A system for simulating acoustic emissions generated from structural damage in a structure, the system comprising: an acquisition system for acquiring acoustic emission data from a plurality of regions of different types of structural damage to obtain at least one acoustic emission signature associated with each of said types of structural damage; and an acoustic emission source adaptable to generate appropriate acoustic emissions at each said region to generate each respective acoustic emission signature.

115. The system of claim 114, wherein said acquisition system is adapted to acquire the acoustic emission data sequentially for different types of structural damage.

116. A method of correlating a site of structural damage in a structure with causal modes of structure use, the method comprising: detecting acoustic emissious flout said site of structural damage at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on said structure; processing the detected acoustic emissions to locate said structural damage; acquiring structure use parameters from the structure; processing said structure use parameters to determine a structure use mode; correlating the structural damage with the determined structure use mode to determine a causal mode of structure use; recording said site of structural damage as a first position and said determined causal mode of structure use; inducing acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of said first position in the structure using an acoustic emission source; receiving said acoustic emissions induced at said second position; determining said second position using the received acoustic emissions; moving said acoustic emission source until said determined second position is substantially concurrent with said first position in the structure to confirm the location of the structural damage; and outputting information on the confirmed location of the structural damage and determined causal mode of structure use.

117. A method of determining a site of structural damage in a structure, the method comprising: detecting acoustic emissions from said site of structural damage at a plurality of acoustic sensors arranged on said structure; processing the detected acoustic emissions using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of predetermined positions on said structure and said acoustic sensors to determine a first approximate position of said structural damage, said first predetermined position lying on one of said predetermined positions; inducing acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of said first position in the structure using an acoustic emission source; detecting said acoustic emissions induced at said second position at said sensors; processing the detected acoustic emissions using the model to determine said second position using the received acoustic emissions; and comparing the processed acoustic emissions from the structural damage with the processed acoustic emissions from the acoustic emission souree Lu detetinine if said second position is said site of structural damage.

118. The method of claim 117, including, if the comparison does not determine that said second position is said site of structural damage, repeatedly moving said acoustic emission source and repeating the inducing detecting and processing steps to determine said second position until said second position is determined to be said site of structural damage.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein a direction to move the acoustic emission source is determined using said model.

120. The method of claim 119, wherein a direction indicator is output to an operator.

121. The method of any one of claims 117 to 120, including updating the model using the processed acoustic emissions from the acoustic emission source and information on said second position.

122. A system for determining a site of structural damage in a structure, the system comprising: a plurality of acoustic sensors for detecting acoustic emissions from said site of structural damage on said structure; a data processing system for processing the detected acoustic emissions using a model characterising effects of acoustic paths between a plurality of predetermined positions on said structure and said acoustic sensors to determine a first approximate position of said structural damage, said first predetermined position lying on one of said predetermined positions; and an acoustic emission source for inducing acoustic emissions at a second position in a region of said first position in the structure; wherein said sensors are adapted to detect said acoustic emissions induced at said second position; said data processing means is adapted to processing the detected acoustic emissions using the model to determine said second position using the received acoustic emissions, and to compare the processed acoustic emissions from the structural t.

uaiita wiLli L1I pi'U a JULLL. iit11UII UL)1L1 L11 aUuLD. cL1I1IU1i UUi LU determine if said second position is said site of structural damage.

123. The system of claim 122, wherein said data processing system is adapted to determine a direction to move the acoustic emission source using said model.

124. The system of claim 123, including an output device for outputting a direction indicator to an operator to indicate the direction to move the acoustic emission source.