Solitary wave-based delamination detection in composite plates using a combined granular crystal sensor and actuator. (15th October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kim, Eunho; Restuccia, Francesco; Yang, Jinkyu; Daraio, Chiara
• Is Part Of: Smart materials and structures. Volume 24:Number 12(2015:Dec.)
• Publication Date: 2015-10-15
• Subjects: solitary wave -- granular crystal -- delamination; Smart materials -- Periodicals; Strucural design -- Periodicals; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/24/12/125004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-1726

Abstract

Abstract: We experimentally and numerically investigate a diagnostic method for detecting hidden delamination in composite panels, using highly nonlinear solitary waves. Solitary waves are a type of nonlinear waves with strong energy intensity and non-distortive nature, which can be controllably generated in one-dimensional granular crystals. In this study, we use granular crystals as a combined sensor and actuator to detect hidden delamination in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite panels. Specifically, we locally excite a CFRP composite specimen using the granular crystal as an actuator and measure the reflected waves that carry the specimen's diagnostic information using the same device as a sensor. We first investigate the effect of the panel's boundary conditions on the response of the reflected solitary waves. We then investigate the interactions of a solitary wave with delamination hidden in the CFRP composite specimen. Lastly, we define a damage index based on the solitary waves' responses to identify the location of the hidden delamination in the CFRP composite panel. The solitary wave-based diagnostic method can provide unique merits, such as portable and fast sensing of composites' hidden damage, thereby with the potential of being used for hot spot monitoring of composite-based structures.