Early-Stage Damage Detection in Advanced Multifunctional Aerospace Composites Using Embedded Carbon Nanotubes and Flocked Carbon Fibers

Proceedings

Hall, Asha¹  Coatney, Michael²  Haile, Mulugeta³  Nataraj, Latha⁴ 

[1] Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.;Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA 02747, USA;Presented at the 18th International Conference on Experimental Mechanics, Brussels, Belgium, 1–5 July 2018;The U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005, USA

关键词: carbon nanotubes;    flocked carbon fibers;    damage sensing;    aerospace composites;    flocking;    CNT;    electrical resistivity;    3-D conductive network;    in-situ damage;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ICEM18-05386

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Early-stage damage detection could provide better reliability and performance and a longer lifetime of materials while reducing maintenance time of a variety of structures and systems. We investigate the early-stage damage formation and damage evolution in advanced multi-functional laminated aerospace composites embedded with a very small amount of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in the matrix material and short carbon fibers along the Z-direction to reinforce the interlaminar interfaces. The three-dimensional (3-D) conductive network formed by the CNTs and the flocked carbon fibers allows for sensitive in-situ damage detection in materials in addition to providing improved mechanical properties such as superior fracture toughness for damage tolerance. We optimize several parameters such as fiber length, diameter, and density to generate an effective 3-D electrical conductive network, and characterize the responses of these composites under mechanical loading to investigate damage formation and evolution, advancing science and technology towards superior damage-tolerant and zero-maintenance structural materials.

【 授权许可】

CC BY