In order to demonstrate the performance and ability of any selected SHM system, their damage detection capability should be compared with the selected NDI methods verifying any speed-up in service inspection (fleet cost reduction). The SHM system verifications should be carried out at all different levels of the Building Block Test approach (MIL-HDBK-17) to detect and characterize BVID under operational load conditions. The system performance is carried out in several steps:

• Tests carried out under operative load spectrum: This step is mainly for assessment of the reliability and robustness of the damage detection methodologies under real operational condition. There will be environmental and operational load changes to compensate for their effect in setting a damage index threshold which is required in damage detection and PoD analysis.
• System functionality test: is carried out to ensure the integrity of the installed SHM system, including self-diagnosis step to identify the health of the sensors. In addition a damage sensitivity analysis is carried out and compared with the numerical assessment tool for calibration. This is required for PoD analysis.
• Multi-site damage assessment: various damage scenarios, caused by the planned impact tests (single, multiple, different location, spectrum of energies to cause BVID) will be carried out to verify and validate the detection algorithms in terms of damage detection, damage location and damage severity assessment.