Real time sensing of structural glass fiber reinforced composites by using embedded PVA - carbon nanotube fibers

N. Alexopoulos^1,2a, P. Poulin³, C. Bartholome³ and Z. Marioli-Riga¹

¹ Hellenic Aerospace Industry, Research and Development Department, 320 09 Schimatari, Greece
² University of the Aegean, Department of Financial Engineering, 821 00 Chios, Greece
³ Université de Bordeaux, Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal – CNRS, Avenue Schweitzer, 33600 Pesseac, France

^a Corresponding author, e-mail: nalexop@tee.gr

Published online: 10 June 2010

Abstract

Polyvinyl alcohol - carbon nanotube (PVA-CNT) fibers had been embedded to glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) for the structural health monitoring of the composite material. The addition of the conductive PVA-CNT fiber to the nonconductive GFRP material aimed to enhance its sensing ability by means of the electrical resistance measurement method. The test specimen’s response to mechanical load and the in situ PVA-CNT fiber’s electrical resistance measurements were correlated for sensing and damage monitoring purposes. The embedded PVA-CNT fiber worked as a sensor in GFRP coupons in tensile loadings. Sensing ability of the PVA-CNT fibers was also demonstrated on an integral composite structure. PVA-CNT fiber near the fracture area of the structure recorded very high values when essential damage occurred to the structure. A finite element model of the same structure was developed to predict axial strains at locations of the integral composite structure where the fibers were embedded. The predicted FEA strains were correlated with the experimental measurements from the PVA-CNT fibers. Calculated and experimental values were in good agreement, thus enabling PVA-CNT fibers to be used as strain sensors.