In this present work, the experimental study of developing the smart material by using 2 different preparation methods for developing nanomaterial for Glass fiber reinforced polymers (GFRP) in order to determine the structural damage. The first method deals with the development of Fiber mat using PVA-CNF (Poly vinyl Alcohol-Carbon nanoFiber) and PVA-CNT (Poly vinyl Alcohol – Carbon nanoTube) , which is embedded into the GFRP. Second method deals with the dispersion of both CNF and MWCNT with epoxy matrix (sonication process) to manufacture GFRP by using Vacuum Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) process. Embedding CNT and CNF fiber is easy which does not downgrade the material’s mechanical properties. PVA-CNF and PVA-CNT sensors were placed at various orientations and different wt. % of CNT and CNF fiber mat were manufacture and embedded on the GFRP has been done in first method, and in the second method, dispersion of the CNF-MWCNT with various wt. % in the GFRP composite has been done. The various incremental loading-unloading step had been applied to the manufactured specimens and their corresponding electrical resistance were observed. The electrical conductivity of the fiber sensor and nanomatrix were compared, due to its resistivity effect on the specimens will be monitored and simultaneously the potential for stress/strain and damage monitoring during the mechanical tests can be assessed.
In this study, Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) ultrafine fibers was fabricated by electro spinning equipment using rotating collector drum with different weight percentage of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT). The fabricated PVDF-MWCNT fiber has embedded to a glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) for structural health monitoring of composite structures. GFRP is non-conductive material. However, by adding (or) embedding conductive PVDF-MWCNT nanocomposites, measuring its relative electrical resistance can be achieved. This study assesses the use of piezo resistive effect and conductivity of carbon nanotubes (CNT) for in-suit measurement of electrical resistance measurements and strain measurement of carbon fiber are correlated for sensing and damage monitoring purpose. The PVDF-MWCNT fiber and PVA-MWCNT fiber embedded in GFRP were evaluated and compared. Its first time PVDF-MWCNT fiber is used in composite material for sensing the damages; hence embedded sensor will downgrade the fatigue life of the composite structures usually, but in this investigation PVDF-MWCNT focus on not to downgrade the material’s mechanical properties. The manufactured specimens were subjected to various incremental loading and unloading tensile test. During mechanical loading and unloading processes the corresponding electrical resistance was monitored simultaneously, to assess the damage level in the structure.
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