Smart hybrid composite sensor technology to enhance the detection of low energy impact damage in composite structures

Fotouhi, Sakineh; Jalalvand, Meisam; Wisnom, Michael R.; Fotouhi, Mohammad

Abstract

This paper introduces novel structural health monitoring (SHM) sensors to improve the detection of low energy impact damage in laminated composites. The sensor is a purposely designed thin-ply hybrid composite, composed of a layer of unidirectional S-glass/epoxy and another layer of unidirectional ultra-high modulus (UHM) carbon/epoxy. The sensor was incorporated onto both the impacted face and back of a substrate plate made from unidirectional T800 carbon/MTM49-3 epoxy prepregs with the stacking sequence of [45/0/90/-45]4S. A series of drop tower tests were conducted on the composite plates with and without the attached hybrid sensing layer, with two different in-plane dimensions and varying energy levels ranging from 3 J to 124 J. The results indicate that the sensors functioned satisfactorily and provided direct correlations between visible and internal hidden damage detected by C-scan. The sensor can be optimized by selecting appropriate material properties and adjusting it to the in-plane dimensions of the substrate.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 29, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 2, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jan 8, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 9, 2024
• Journal: Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing
• Print ISSN: 1359-835X
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 172
• Article Number: 107595
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesa.2023.107595
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/11597450