Advances with sensor technology, miniaturization of electronics and wireless communication makes it possible to utilize structural health monitoring (SHM) as a tool to trigger comprehensive NDE which may presently be rigidly scheduled or based on estimated or expected service of critical components. In all of these cases actual service experience may differ from that which is expected and if it does without the use of SHM there may be no awareness of a serious threat because reasonable expectations were incorrect. This presentation will describe a sensing scheme designed to guide cost-effective application of inspection of fatigue critical components. This technological approach holds potential for application in aerospace and transportation, and other areas where risk-based component inspection is necessary.

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