A series of tests have been conducted to determine the survivability and functionality of a PZT sensor-based guide wave structural health monitoring (GWSHM) technology under the operating conditions of typical liquid rocket tanks such as cryogenic temperature. The performance of a typical piezoelectric sensor (PZT-5A) and different low temperature adhesives under cryogenic temperature was first investigated. The GWSHM sensor system for liquid rocket tanks was exposed to flight various environments from room temperature (10℃) to cryogenic temperature (- 180℃) to evaluate the physical robustness of the sensor- adhesives system as well as operational survivability and functionality. Test results demonstrated that the developed sensors system can withstand operational levels of vibration and shock energy on a representative rocket tanks duct assembly, and is functional under the combined cryogenic temperature and vibration environment.
doi: 10.12783/SHM2015/365