Characterization of Piezo fiber-based sensors responses in multifunctional composites

Structural health monitoring systems (SHMS) are increasingly being considered for implementation in a wide range of industries, including transport, civil infrastructure, and energy production. As the application of SHM systems increase, it will be increasingly important to quantify the durability, reliability, and reparability of the SHM system. This paper investigates the electrical and electro-mechanical characteristics of piezoelectric sensors in an attempt to distinguish sensor failure from structural damage [10]. This study involved the measurements of pertinent electrical properties for MFC (Macro Fibre Composite) sensor under fatigue loading and comparison of the strain measurements to characterize the degradation of the structure as well as the MFC. Changes in the capacitance and inductance of this sensor have been recorded, highlighting deleterious structural changes in the sensor itself without any discernible change in the structure being monitored.