Methods of distributed sensing for health monitoring of composite material structures

The use of composites in the transportation industry is hindered by their susceptibility to damage. Defects that occur during manufacturing or an impact during normal operation can significantly reduce the strength of the composite. Consequently, methods of structural health monitoring (SHM) are needed to verify and continuously monitor the integrity of composite structures. The use of integrated and distributed sensors to develop intelligent composites is a promising approach because large composite structures can be monitored with minimal human intervention. This paper discusses the use of a scanning laser vibrometer (SLV) and piezoceramic materials for distributed sensing. Results of different experiments are summarized.