An Exploration of Structural Health Monitoring for Hypersonic Vehicles

This paper delves into the domain of structural health monitoring as applied to hypersonic vehicles, aiming to address the unique challenges posed by their extreme operational conditions. Hypersonic vehicles, defined as those that exceed Mach 5, create unprecedented challenges within the fields of aerodynamics, thermal management, and structural integrity. The pursuit of advancements in aerospace technology, particularly in airbreathing engines like ramjets and scramjets, necessitates innovative approaches to ensure their safety, reliability, and performance. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of existing literature, state-of-the-art technologies, and recent advancements, contributing to the growing body of knowledge in hypersonic vehicle development. The challenges of fluid-thermal-structural interaction (FTSI) along with the role of SHM in addressing these issues is discussed. Additionally, the exploration extends to shape sensing algorithms, demonstrating the potential of optical fibre sensors in providing real-time estimations of a vehicle's shape for performance evaluation and design validation. The findings presented herein contribute to the evolving intersection of aerospace engineering and information technology, guiding future research endeavours for the safety and success of hypersonic vehicles.