Structural Health Monitoring of Composites Using Integrated and Flexible Piezoelectric Ultrasonic Transducers

Two types of ultrasonic sensors are presented for structural health monitoring (SHM) and non-destructive testing (NDT) of graphite/epoxy (Gr/Ep) composites of thickness ranging from 1 mm to 12.7 mm. These piezoelectric film-based sensors are fabricated using a sol-gel spray technique. The center ope...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of intelligent material systems and structures Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 969 - 977
Main Authors:	Kobayashi, Makiko, Wu, Kuo-Ting, Li Song, Jen, Cheng-Kuei, Ad, Nezih
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	London, England SAGE Publications 01-05-2009 Sage Publications
Subjects:	Applied sciences Composites Exact sciences and technology Forms of application and semi-finished materials Fracture mechanics (crack, fatigue, damage...) Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications) Measurement and testing methods Physics Polymer industry, paints, wood Solid mechanics Structural and continuum mechanics Technology of polymers flexible ultrasonic transducer non-contact method structural health monitoring integrated ultrasonic transducer graphite/epoxy composite non-destructive testing Polyimide Epoxy resin Coatings graphite/epoxy Graphite fiber composite Curved surface Delamination Ultrasound Monitoring Damaging Thin film device Acoustic measurement Piezoelectric sensor Layer thickness Anisotropy Sol gel process Embedded transducer Non destructive test Ultrasonic transducer
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Summary:	Two types of ultrasonic sensors are presented for structural health monitoring (SHM) and non-destructive testing (NDT) of graphite/epoxy (Gr/Ep) composites of thickness ranging from 1 mm to 12.7 mm. These piezoelectric film-based sensors are fabricated using a sol-gel spray technique. The center operation frequency of these sensors ranges from 1.3 MHz to 14.5 MHz. For the first sensor type, piezoelectric films of thickness ≥30 μm were deposited directly onto planar and curved Gr/Ep composites surfaces as integrated sensors. Ultrasonic signals propagating in a distance of more than 300 mm have been obtained. Anisotropy of 08 and 908 cross ply Gr/Ep composite is measured and delamination detected. For the second sensor type, piezoelectric films are coated onto a 50 μm thick polyimide membrane as flexible sensors that may be attached to a host composite structure with planar or curved surfaces. An induction type non-contact method for the interrogation of the Gr/Ep composites using integrated sensors is also presented.
ISSN:	1045-389X 1530-8138
DOI:	10.1177/1045389X08101563