Carbon Nanotube Sensors Developed for Stress and Strain Detection in Airplanes, Automobiles, Buildings, Bridges And Other Structures

Rice University (Houston, TX) earned U.S. Patent 7,730,547 for sensor devices made of carbon nanotubes that are capable of detecting displacement, impact, stress, and strain in materials as well as methods of manufacturing the sensors. Exemplary uses for such sensors include stress and strain detection in airplanes, spacecraft, automobiles, buildings, bridges, dams, gaskets and other structures.

Carbon nanotube sensing elements can be incorporated into airplane wings (or other parts of the airplane) to serve as indicators of potential structural failure. Carbon nanotube sensors can be potentially useful in detecting damage after lightning strikes an aircraft.

Source: beforeitsnews