MEMS-based surface mounted health monitoring system for composite laminates

• Published in: Microelectronics Vol. 44; no. 7; pp. 598 - 605
• Main Authors: Mariani, Stefano, Corigliano, Alberto, Caimmi, Francesco, Bruggi, Matteo, Bendiscioli, Paolo, De Fazio, Marco
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2013
• Subjects: Cantilever beams; Composite structures; Crack propagation; Cracks; Delamination; Embedded structural health monitoring; Fatigue (materials); Health monitoring (engineering); Laminates; Methodology; Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); Monitoring; Monitors; Micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS); Composite structures; Delamination; Embedded structural health monitoring
• ISSN: 1879-2391; 0026-2692; 1879-2391
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mejo.2013.03.003

Composite structures subjected to extreme loadings like, e.g., impacts, can undergo a reduction of their stiffness and strength properties, due to the nucleation and subsequent propagation of cracks along the interfaces between different phase materials. This phenomenon turns out to be difficult to detect through cheap monitoring procedures. Here, we discuss a methodology to monitor the state of crack-containing composite laminates through low-cost, commercial off-the-shelf MEMS accelerometers. By adopting cyclic loading conditions, we track the evolution of the cracked, or debonded region in a double cantilever beam; this is achieved by surface mounting a MEMS (along with its board) and by monitoring the drift in the compliance of the specimen induced by crack growth. The methodology is validated through an analytical model of the experimental test, which highlights the sensitivity of the monitoring scheme to the crack length.