Embedded sensing and actuating in CFRP composite structures—concept and technology demonstration for tailored embeddable sensor-actuator layers (TEmSAL)

Abstract

Carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) materials are of interest for the aerospace and aviation industry to master growing economic and ecological challenges. In contrast to conventional metallic materials, they offer both higher specific material properties, such as strengths, stiffnesses, and an increased energy absorption capacity in case of impact loading scenarios. Additionally, the possibility of integrating functional elements, such as actuators and sensors, predestine CFRP for the development of more lightweight structural components. In this study, a generic composite structure is instrumented with embedded piezo ceramic sensor elements. A technology for TEmSAL is presented and applied within an autoclave manufacturing process. Aspects of the designing process, manufacturing and instrumentation as well as experimental impact sensing and self-actuation results are presented and discussed.

High velocity impact on generic CFRP blade specimen: baseline free method for impact localisation and damage assessment on complex structures

“…The TEmSAL consists of two polyimide films with printed conduction paths and six piezo elements embedded in between. More detailed information concerning the TEmSAL manufacturing can be found in [32][33][34].…”

Multi-strand Fibers with Hierarchical Helical Structures Driven by Water or Moisture for Soft Actuators

“…In organisms, a muscle that consists of a bundle of muscle fibers exhibits large load capacity, energy storage, and rapid response to mobility by simultaneous contraction and stretching of multiple muscle fibers. , Such a muscle has become a research hotspot for use in imitation and transcendence through flexible actuating materials. − Such materials, which can perform reversible motions such as bending, rotation, contraction, and twisting spontaneously in response to external stimuli, , such as light, − humidity, pH, − magnetism, − and chemicals, have attracted increasing attention for the wide applications of artificial muscles − and biomimetic robots. , Many materials have been investigated for actuators with high performance, including shape memory and conducting polymers, which are made in different forms, such as films, , fibers, and hydrogels . However, although, like living organisms, film and hydrogel actuators can spontaneously respond to external stimuli, their low stability, long response time, poor strength, and toughness limit their application as strength-requiring actuators. , On the contrary, fiber-based actuators that are closest to biological muscles have been of interest to researchers as these actuators leverage strong responsiveness, lightweight, great mechanical properties, and superior flexibility, which enables them to be twisted, knotted, and weaved without any structural failure …”

“… 1 , 2 Such a muscle has become a research hotspot for use in imitation and transcendence through flexible actuating materials. 3 − 5 Such materials, which can perform reversible motions such as bending, rotation, contraction, and twisting spontaneously in response to external stimuli, 6 , 7 such as light, 8 − 10 humidity, 11 pH, 12 − 14 magnetism, 15 − 17 and chemicals, 18 have attracted increasing attention for the wide applications of artificial muscles 19 − 21 and biomimetic robots. 22 , 23 Many materials have been investigated for actuators with high performance, including shape memory 24 and conducting polymers, which are made in different forms, such as films, 25 , 26 fibers, 27 and hydrogels.…”

Characterization of a PVDF sensor embedded in a metal structure using ultrasonic additive manufacturing

“…6 Other studies focused on embedding piezoelectric sensors in reinforced-fiber and other types of composites for damage detection in lightweight structures. [7][8][9][10] Grandal et al 11 analyzed embedded fiber optic sensors in metals while Hossain 12 studied the effect of embedded piezoceramic sensors in an alumina housing. Although various methods have been adopted to embed sensors in a parent matrix for diagnostic purposes, these traditional methodologies typically require high processing temperatures or metal deposition techniques.…”