In situ damage detection in SMA reinforced CFRP

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the possibility to manufacture and verify the self-sensing capability of composite materials plates with an embedded network of NiTi shape memory alloys (SMA) used as transducers for structural integrity. Firstly, the thermo-electrical material properties of SMAs were investigated to assess their capability to sense strain within. The results showed that the electrical resistance variation provided by the shape memory alloys network enables a built in and fast assessment of the stress distribution over the entire structure. Then, by transmitting a low amperage current, results in an electric and thermal flow through the entire SMA network. Using an IR Camera it is possible to capture the emitted thermal waves from the sample and create an image of the thermal field within the material. Consequently, analysing the behaviour of the heating curves on different points of the sample, it is possible to identify potential variation in the apparent temperature of the composite, leading to the identification of damages within the composite structure.

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