A technique for real-time detection, location and quantification of damage in large polymer composite structures made of electrically non-conductive fibers and carbon nanotube networks

In this work, we have developed a novel, practical and real-time structural health monitoring (SHM) technique to detect, locate and quantify damage that occurs at one or more locations in large polymer composite structures (LPCSs) made of electrically non-conductive fibers and carbon nanotube networks. Our technique exploits the piezoresistive effect of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in epoxy resin. The electrically conductive epoxy resin was used to prepare glass fiber reinforced composite plates. The plates were marked with grid points where electrically conductive silver-epoxy pastes were deposited. The electrical resistances between the grid points were measured and used as a reference set. Two new concepts are introduced. One is uniformity of MWCNT distribution which gives rise to uniformity in electrical conductivity. The second is maximum sensitivity to change in electrical resistance due to the occurrence of damage. These issues are demonstrated as criteria to determine the optimal quantity of MWCNTs. This optimal quantity is used to assure damage detectability at any region in the large plates. Drilled holes and impact testing were conducted to simulate damage. The damage causes the electrical resistance between the contact points surrounding the damage to increase. This increase is used to detect, locate and quantify damage.