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Carbon Nanotube Based Sensor to Monitor Crack Growth in Cracked Aluminum Structures Underneath Composite Patching

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Abstract

The paper investigates a carbon nanotube-based sensor to detect crack propagation in aluminum structures underneath composite patching. Initial tests are conducted to determine the correct procedure and materials to properly fabricate a carbon nanotube (CNT) based sensor, which is then placed in between a composite patch and the aluminum structure. The CNTs have been utilized as sensors in previous studies but only for sensing crack propagation within the composite itself. This study focuses on crack propagation in the base material and is not concerned with the composite. In this application, the composite is only a patch and can be replaced if damaged. The study conducts both tension and fatigue testing to determine the usefulness of the CNT sensor. The CNT sensor is shown to be effective in giving an indication of the crack propagation in the aluminum. Correlation is done between the crack propagation length and the increase in electrical resistance in the CNT sensor under tensile and cyclic loading, respectively.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, USA

    T. M. Olson & Y. W. Kwon

  2. Structures and Composite Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, West Bethesda, MD, USA

    D. C. Hart, D. C. Loup & E. A. Rasmussen

Authors
  1. T. M. Olson
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  2. Y. W. Kwon
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  3. D. C. Hart
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  4. D. C. Loup
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  5. E. A. Rasmussen
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Correspondence to Y. W. Kwon.

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Olson, T.M., Kwon, Y.W., Hart, D.C. et al. Carbon Nanotube Based Sensor to Monitor Crack Growth in Cracked Aluminum Structures Underneath Composite Patching. Appl Compos Mater 22, 457–473 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-014-9417-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-014-9417-0

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