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Self-Sensing Polymer Composite: White-Light-Illuminated Reinforcing Fibreglass Bundle for Deformation Monitoring
Gergely Hegedus1, Tamas Sarkadi2, Tibor Czigany3,4
1Department of Polymer Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Muegyetem rkp. 3, H-1111 Budapest, Hungary. hegedus@pt.bme.hu.
Researchers developed a self-sensing composite using glass fibre-reinforced epoxy. A simple fibre bundle guided light, detecting tensile loading and deformation before structural damage occurs.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Composite Materials
- Smart Materials
Background:
- Continuous fibre-reinforced composites are crucial structural materials.
- Developing integrated sensing capabilities in composites is an ongoing challenge.
- Self-sensing materials offer potential for structural health monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a continuous glass fibre-reinforced epoxy matrix composite with self-sensing capabilities.
- To investigate the use of an integrated fibre bundle as an optical sensor.
- To demonstrate the detection of tensile loading and deformation in the composite.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a glass fibre-reinforced epoxy composite.
- Selection and preparation of an internal fibre bundle for white light transmission.
- Monitoring changes in transmitted light power under tensile loading.
- Correlation of light power changes with applied strain and deformation.
Main Results:
- A functional self-sensing composite was successfully developed.
- The integrated fibre bundle transmitted white light, acting as an optical sensor.
- Tensile loading caused measurable changes in the transmitted light power.
- Deformation was detected prior to any fibre breakage, indicating pre-damage sensing.
Conclusions:
- An arbitrary glass fibre bundle within a composite can serve as an effective embedded sensor.
- This approach enables non-destructive detection of deformation in fibre-reinforced composites.
- The developed self-sensing composite shows promise for structural health monitoring applications.
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