Monitoring Fatigue Crack Growth in Compact Tension Specimens Using Piezoelectric Sensors

Abstract

This paper aims to report the results of an experimental study on the application of piezoelectric dynamic strain sensors for crack length measurement in fracture mechanics specimens. The performance of the piezoelectric sensors was assessed through fatigue crack propagation tests in compact tension (CT) specimens. Sensors of polarized polyvinilidene fluoride polymer (PVDF) were bonded to the back face of CT specimens, in the same manner as the electrical resistance strain gages installed for crack length measurement in the back face strain technique. The results showed that, mainly due to its high sensitivity to strain, the use of piezoelectric materials as dynamic strain sensors can contribute to the experimental investigation in the field of fracture mechanics.

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