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May 16-17, 2019 | Prague, Czech Republic
2
nd
International Conference on
22
nd
International Conference on
Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
Advanced Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Joint Event
&
Journal of Materials Science and Nanotechnology | Volume 3
Mater Sci Nanotechnol, Volume 3
Intelligent aerospace composites with integrated nanomaterials-based sensing
Latha Nataraj
U S Army Research Laboratory, USA
E
xcellent fatigue performance, high specific stiffness and
strength and low density of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)
composites have led them to emerge as critical structural
materials for a wide range of aerospace applications.
However, structural integrity of such composites can be
severely compromised by evenmicroscale damage that might
normally seem trivial, such as delamination, matrix cracking,
fiber debonding or breakage, thus making it critical need
to monitor the health of the structure. Identification and
detection of early stages of damage formation and evolution
could improve reliability and performance of composites and
lead to a longer lifetime of the structure while minimizing
maintenance efforts. Metal foil strain gauges and optical
fiber sensors which are the most popular tools for strain
sensing presently pose inherent limitations which are yet to
be overcome. Hence, there has been an increased scientific
and technical quest for physically stable, quick responding,
highly sensitive and cost-effective strain sensing materials,
devices, and techniques for applications over a broad range
of strain experienced by a structure or system of interest.
We pursue
in-situ
detection of damage at the earliest stages
of formation and evolution in fiber reinforced composites
which have come to be ubiquitous for aerospace applications
due to superior damage tolerance through the embedding
sensingmaterials in the advanced aerospace composites. We
investigate
in-situ
change in electrical resistivity and Raman
spectra in response to mechanical loads, correlating them
with the full-field deformation and damage mechanisms
using digital image correlation in conjunction with acoustic
emission and thermal imaging measurements, advancing
science and technology towards superior damage-tolerant
and zero-maintenance structural materials.
e
:
latha.nataraj.civ@mail.mil