Structural Health Monitoring of Repairs in Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites by MWCNT-Based Multiscale Sensors

Wenlong Hu, Zijie Sun, Lulu Yang, Shuzheng Zhang, Fangxin Wang, Bin Yang and Yu Cang ()
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Wenlong Hu: School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Zijie Sun: Beijing Spacecrafts, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing 100094, China
Lulu Yang: School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Shuzheng Zhang: School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Fangxin Wang: College of Architectural Science and Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225127, China
Bin Yang: School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
Yu Cang: School of Aerospace Engineering and Applied Mechanics, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 22, 1-9

Abstract: The precision maintenance of delaminated carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites calls for the high demand of continuous, in situ monitoring of the damage-repair process along with the in-service status of the repaired region. Moreover, the repaired region faces a high risk of re-damage; therefore, in-service monitoring is highly desired. However, the current repair process lacks the in situ monitoring function, leading to the mechanism and evaluation of the repair approach being unclear. Here, we implanted multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) at the interface between the carbon fiber and resin matrix of the damaged region to achieve in situ monitoring of the repair, compression, and seawater-immersion processes. By depositing both the coupling agent and MWCNTs at the interfaces, a high recovery efficiency of 85% was achieved, which was independent of the delamination pattern shapes. The electric resistance changes of MWCNT-modified panels could effectively identify the resin permeation and solidification processes and could be used to in situ monitor the structural health of the repair region when it is subjected to the compression and seawater immersion tests. This strategy, combining high-efficient repair and precision maintenance, demonstrates potential in the structural applications of carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

Keywords: CFRP; repair; in situ monitoring; MWCNTs; interfacial sensors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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