A disposable PVDF sensor applied to the detection of fatigue crack growth in bonded composite joints

Oh Yang Kwon, Dana Brosig, Kalyan Nistala, Yuris A. Dzenis

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

The application of polyvinylidene di-fluoride (PVDF) film as an acoustic emission (AE) sensor appears to be practical to detect the fatigue crack growth in composite materials and structures. A commercially available PVDF film sensor was employed to detect AE due to fatigue crack growth in the single-lap joints of graphite/epoxy laminates. Although the signal-to-noise ratio is not as high as those measured by PZT sensors, the result showed that the location of crack front could be predicted by the linear location of AE signals detected by the PVDF sensors. Since the composite materials usually produce very energetic AE signals, the extremely cost-effective form of PVDF sensors can be permanently mounted on composite structures for structural health monitoring as disposable ones. Piezoelectric polymer sensors are expected to be eventually embedded in composite structures provided the current limit of use temperature being increased by introducing co-polymerization with some heat resistant constituents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationNondestructive Evaluation
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Pages97-102
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)0791836495, 9780791836491
StatePublished - 2002

Publication series

NameASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Proceedings

Keywords

  • Bonded joints
  • Composites
  • Disposable AE sensor
  • Fatigue cracks
  • PVDF

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Mechanical Engineering

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