Embedded Sensors for Intelligent Composite Structures

NCC has been working with The Centre for Process Innovation (CPI) to research integrating lightweight circuitry and embed strain sensors within composites materials. Strain sensors, printed on a flat, flexible polymeric film, can be embedded or integrated into an advanced composites structure to demonstrate real-time structural health monitoring via PC display interfaces and wireless communication devices. The sensors produce data which can be used to hep measure stress and carry out life assessments of the composites infrastructure.

The ability to use low-cost sensing techniques during manufacture, assembly processes and in-service allows for the exploitation of composites in new areas. The outcome from this project will be a substantial reduction in part count and assembly complexity, as well as the creation of simple, low-cost methods to integrate structural health monitoring in composites structures.

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