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

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.

Carbon fibre composite, Hybrid composites, Impact damage, Structural health monitoring

10.1016/j.compositesa.2023.107595

1359-835X

Fotouhi, Sakineh

8fb7436a-d536-4677-89b2-fd0cc3e5fc97

Jalalvand, Meisam

21ef0df8-fc7c-4466-a2fc-ee98ed3408a2

Wisnom, Michael R.

93bec88e-5256-49f2-9869-5ac551e18d7a

Fotouhi, Mohammad

23acb91e-43ef-48fe-b437-2a5234c837b4

1 September 2023

Fotouhi, Sakineh

8fb7436a-d536-4677-89b2-fd0cc3e5fc97

Jalalvand, Meisam

21ef0df8-fc7c-4466-a2fc-ee98ed3408a2

Wisnom, Michael R.

93bec88e-5256-49f2-9869-5ac551e18d7a

Fotouhi, Mohammad

23acb91e-43ef-48fe-b437-2a5234c837b4

Fotouhi, Sakineh, Jalalvand, Meisam, Wisnom, Michael R. and Fotouhi, Mohammad (2023) Smart hybrid composite sensor technology to enhance the detection of low energy impact damage in composite structures. Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing, 172, [107595]. (doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2023.107595).

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Accepted/In Press date: 29 April 2023

e-pub ahead of print date: 2 May 2023

Published date: 1 September 2023

Additional Information: The research presented in this paper was financially supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Grants EP/V009451/1, which focused on the development of high-performance impact-resistant composites with visible damage, and EP/I02946X/1, which aimed to advance high-performance ductile composite technology in collaboration with Imperial College. All data necessary to support the conclusions of this study are provided within the paper.

Keywords: Carbon fibre composite, Hybrid composites, Impact damage, Structural health monitoring