Application of the Piezoelectricity in an Active and Passive Health Monitoring System

Abstract

Fibber reinforced composites are nowadays used extensively in aircraft structures because of their properties such as low weight, high stiffness, high strength and fatigue resistance. Nevertheless, they are not exempt from drawbacks, since they are very sensitive to manufac‐ turing processes and service conditions. In particular, their high weakness to low and high velocity impacts has brought new problems for maintenance. These events that are prime sources of delamination and fibber cracking in composite structures are produced either by hazardous conditions (e.g. bird strikes, impacts with foreign objects, etc.) or human errors (tool drops, ground collisions, etc.). In this context, the development of a continuous health monitoring in parallel to the traditional maintenance is a safety issue [1].