Piezoelectric-based in-situ damage detection of composite materials for structural health monitoring systems

Cost-effective and reliable damage detection is critical for the utilization of composite materials. This thesis presents the conclusions of an analytical and experimental survey of candidate methods for in-situ damage detection in composite materials. Finite element results are presented for the application of modal analysis and Lamb wave techniques to quasi-isotropic graphite/epoxy test specimens containing representative damage. These results were then verified experimentally by using piezoelectric patches as actuators and sensors for both sets of experiments. The passive modal analysis method was reliable for detecting small amounts of global damage in a simple composite structures. By comparison, the active Lamb wave method was sensitive to all types of local damage present between the sensor and actuator, provided useful information about damage presence and severity, and presents the possibility of estimating damage type and location. Analogous experiments were also performed for more complex built-up structures such as sandwich beams, stiffened plates and composite cylinders.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2002

Author dc:creator

• Kessler, Seth Stovack, 1977-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• S. Mark Spearing.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/16836

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/16836