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Structural health monitoring of GFRP laminates using graphene-based smart strain gauges

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Abstract

Graphene nanocomposites are constantly being explored for their applicability in the growing domain of strain monitoring (Jing et al. in Chin Phys B 22(5):057701, 2013) for real-time health and integrity assessment of structural parts. Strain gauges were manufactured by incorporating conductive graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in insulating polystyrene matrix by varying filler concentrations. Initial measurements showed that the resistance of these gauges decreases with increasing content of GNPs. For structural health monitoring (SHM) applications, these gauges were pasted on laminated glass fiber composite substrate. The specimens with integrated gauges were tested under monotonic tensile loading. The piezoresistive response of gauges was observed and registered as a means to detect strains in the composite specimens. The results presented in this paper demonstrate SHM capabilities of these smart strain gauges.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Capital University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Anas

  2. Composite Materials Lab, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, Pakistan

    Muhammad Ali Nasir

  3. College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, National University of Science and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Zeeshan Asfar

  4. Materials Science and Engineering Department, Institute of Space Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Saad Nauman

  5. Department of Textile Engineering, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Mehmet Akalin

  6. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University Technology Petronas, Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia

    Faiz Ahmad

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  1. Muhammad Anas
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  2. Muhammad Ali Nasir
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  3. Zeeshan Asfar
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  4. Saad Nauman
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Correspondence to Muhammad Ali Nasir.

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Technical Editor: Pedro Manuel Calas Lopes Pacheco.

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Anas, M., Nasir, M.A., Asfar, Z. et al. Structural health monitoring of GFRP laminates using graphene-based smart strain gauges. J Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng. 40, 397 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-018-1320-4

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