This is a review of the work performed at the Defense Science and Technology Organisation, Aeronautical Research Laboratory, Melbourne, Australia and the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Monash University to develop "active" sensor technology using piezoelectric thin films. The initial part of this review outlines a theoretical and experimental investigation on the characterisation of KYNAR piezoelectric thin film sensors. An experimental and theoretical study was then undertaken demonstrating the feasibility of using piezoelectric sensors to detect and monitor crack growth in a cracked aluminium specimen. The work was then extended to include a numerical investigation into the use of piezoelectric sensors to monitor crack growth, in an aluminium structure, beneath a boron/epoxy patch. Finally, the last section describes the use of piezoelectric sensors for detecting impact damage in composite structures. latter takes the form of thin sheets that can be attached to most surfaces. These materials exhibit excellent mechanical strength, low acoustic impedance and possess a flat response over a wide frequency range. Due to their low mechanical impedance a number of piezoelectric films can be distributed along the structure without drastically affecting its mechanical properties. These films can be readily cut and shaped to conform to the structure under consideration.
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