Packaging of active fiber composites for improved sensor performance

• Published in: Smart materials and structures Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 015001 - 015001 (9)
• Main Authors: Melnykowycz, M, Barbezat, M, Koller, R, Brunner, A J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.01.2010; Institute of Physics
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); General equipment and techniques; Instruments, apparatus, components and techniques common to several branches of physics and astronomy; Measurement and testing methods; Physics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Properties and testing; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Technology of polymers; Testing and control; Transducers; High strain; Measurement sensor; Layered materials; Plastic packaging; PZT; Piezoceramic materials; Smart materials; Glass fibers; Carbon fibers; Composite materials; Silicon; Embedded transducer; Intelligent system; Stress measurement
• ISSN: 0964-1726; 1361-665X
• DOI: 10.1088/0964-1726/19/1/015001

Active fiber composites (AFC) composed of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) fibers embedded in an epoxy matrix and sandwiched between two interdigitated electrodes provide a thin and flexible smart material device which can act as a sensor or actuator. The thin profiles of AFC make them ideal for integration in glass or carbon fiber composite laminates. However, due to the low tensile limit of the PZT fibers, AFC can fail at strains below the tensile limit of many composites. This makes their use as a component in an active laminate design somewhat undesirable. In the current work, tensile testing of smart laminates composed of AFC integrated in glass fiber laminates was conducted to assess the effectiveness of different packaging strategies for improving AFC sensor performance at high strains relative to the tensile limit of the AFC. AFC were encased in carbon fiber, silicon, and pre-stressed carbon fiber to improve the tensile limit of the AFC when integrated in glass fiber laminates. By laminating AFC with pre-stressed carbon fiber, the tensile limit and strain sensor ability of the AFC were significantly improved. Acoustic emission monitoring was used and the results show that PZT fiber breakage was reduced due to the pre-stressed packaging process.