Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) Study of Polymer Matrix Composite (PMC) Materials Using Nonlinear Vibration...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Mechanical Engineering
• Structural Health Monitoring

Background:

• Polymer matrix composites (PMCs) are anisotropic and heterogeneous materials.
• Nonlinear vibration methods are emerging for damage detection in PMCs.
• Structural health monitoring (SHM) requires reliable damage detection techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the use of two nonlinear vibration methods for detecting different types of damage in PMCs.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of in situ embedded polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric sensors for damage detection.
• To compare nonlinear resonance (NLR) and single frequency excitation (SFE) methods for damage identification.

Main Methods:

• Utilized nonlinear resonance (NLR) and single frequency excitation (SFE) techniques.
• Employed in situ embedded polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric sensors for vibration monitoring.
• Introduced damage during manufacturing and post-manufacturing for testing.
• Validated PVDF sensor data against accelerometer measurements.

Main Results:

• Both NLR and SFE methods showed potential for detecting various damage types in PMCs.
• The study identified damage introduced both during and after the manufacturing process.
• PVDF sensors demonstrated effectiveness in capturing vibration data for damage assessment.

Conclusions:

• Nonlinear vibration methods, particularly NLR and SFE, are effective for damage detection in PMCs.
• A combination of NLR and SFE techniques may offer the most robust solution for SHM applications.
• Integrated PVDF sensors provide a viable alternative to traditional accelerometers for monitoring composite structures.