Mechanical behaviour and health monitoring by acoustic emission of sandwich composite integrated by piezoelectric implant

• Published in: Composites. Part B, Engineering Vol. 67; pp. 76 - 83
• Main Authors: Masmoudi, Sahir, El Mahi, Abderrahim, El Guerjouma, Rachid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: A. Smart materials; Acoustic emission; Acoustics; Applied sciences; B. Fatigue; Bending fatigue; C. Damage; D. Acoustic emission; Engineering Sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fatigue tests; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Laminates; Mechanical properties; Monitoring; Piezoelectricity; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Sensors; Technology of polymers; A. Smart materials; B. Fatigue; C. Damage; D. Acoustic emission; Piezoelectric sensor; Laminate; Unidirectional fiber material; Fiber reinforced material; Sandwich structure; Epoxy resin; Mechanical properties; Experimental study; Mineral fiber; Composite material; Bending strength; Fatigue strength; Acoustic emission; Embedded transducer; Glass fiber; Fracture mode; Monitoring; Fatigue; Damage; Smart materials
• ISSN: 1359-8368; 1879-1069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2014.05.032

•Effects of embedded sensors on the host sandwich composite have been investigated.•During flexural testes, acoustic emission signals were recorded.•Embedded sensor causes low degradation of mechanical characteristics of the material.•Identification of four damage mechanisms in the sandwich composite.•Health monitoring of composite will be enhanced when the sensor is implanted.
The feasibility of embedding piezoelectric sensor to detect the acoustic emission (AE) activities in sandwich composites has been investigated experimentally. A series of sandwich specimens with and without embedded piezoelectric sensor were tested in three-point bending in static and fatigue loading while continuously monitoring the response by the AE technique. Experimental results show that the incorporation of piezoelectric sensor causes low degradation of mechanical properties of material. The analysis and observation of AE signals leads to the identification of the acoustic signatures of four damage mechanisms in sandwich materials. One of the major differences between the two types of materials (with and without embedded sensor) is the intense acoustic activity in the integrated material.