Composite Single Lap Shear Joint Integrity Monitoring via Embedded Electromechanical Impedance Sensors

Composite bonded structure is a prevalent portion of today’s aircraft structure. Adequate bond integrity critical aspect fabrication and service, especially since many structural bonds are for flight safety. Over the last decade, non-destructive evaluation techniques have improved but still cannot detect structurally weak that exhibits full adherend/adhesive contact. The result expensive time-consuming proof testing continues to be required verify integrity. objective this work investigate feasibility bondline monitoring using piezoelectric sensors, embedded at different locations within composite joint, assess benefits thickness mode in addition radial mode. Experiments analyses performed on single lap shear joints, with without subjected incrementally increasing tensile loads. results indicate sensors measure change resonance both during incremental loading shows enhanced sensitivity impending failure. Thus, it demonstrated modes sensor provides details prognostic performance evaluation.