Durability of Co-bonded Piezoelectric Transducers

• Published in: Procedia technology Vol. 15; pp. 638 - 647
• Main Authors: Moix-Bonet, M., Buethe, I., Bach, M., Fritzen, C.-P., Wierach, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2014
• Subjects: durability testing; Electro-Mechanical Impedance (EMI); integrated transducers; PWAS; sensor faults; SHM; signal processing; Structural Health Monitoring; Structural Health Monitoring; signal processing; Electro-Mechanical Impedance (EMI); SHM; PWAS; sensor faults; integrated transducers; durability testing
• ISSN: 2212-0173; 2212-0173
• DOI: 10.1016/j.protcy.2014.09.025

The Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technique Acousto Ultrasonics is based on a permanently installed piezoelectric transducer network. A reliable and effective transducer installation procedure shall be developed so that SHM represents a feasible alternative to the currently used Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) in Aircraft. A co-bonding procedure has been considered for transducer installation as a time and cost efficient method, while arising additional requirements regarding the transducer properties and the manufacturing processes. This paper focuses on the mechanical durability of DuraAct™ piezoelectric patch transducers, which have been co-bonded on Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) plates. The samples were tested in quasi-static and cyclic loading conditions at different loading levels. The degradation of the DuraAct™ piezoelectric transducers is assessed by means of three monitoring methods: The electro-mechanical impedance spectrum, the charge issued from the direct piezoelectric effect when the piezoelectric transducers undergo mechanical deformation and the guided ultrasonic waves sent and received by the transducers.