Damage Evaluation for Aircraft CFRP Components Using Piezoelectric Sensing

R. AUSTIN, M. K. ELBATANOUNY, P. H. ZIEHL

Abstract


The use of advanced composite materials has increased rapidly in the last two decades. Given their favorable properties in terms of strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, these materials are used in critical components in modern aircraft. However, vulnerability to hidden fatigue damage has raised the need for effective nondestructive evaluation/structural health monitoring technique. In this study, acoustic emission was used to monitor composite specimens tested under fatigue loading. A numerically based data classification approach was used to assess the progression of damage. The results show that acoustic emission has the ability to detect damage prior to visual signs, and is promising for providing warning of impending failure.

doi: 10.12783/SHM2015/190


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