Damage detection in composite materials using acoustic emission and self-sensing fibres

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the abilities of acoustic emission testing and self-sensing fibres to detect damage in composite materials. This was achieved by performing acoustic emission testing on fibre samples and resin samples during tensile tests. In parallel to the acoustic emission testing the changes in strain for the resin samples was recorded using electrical resistance strain gauges and fibre Bragg gratings. Acoustic emission testing of Self-sensing fibre composites allowed the recorded changes in the light intensity transmitted by the fibres to be analysed in conjunction with the acoustic emission data. The fabrication of the three different sample types is presented as is the installation of the electrical resistance strain gauges and fibre Bragg gratings. The experimental procedure and method of data capture is detailed for tensile and acoustic emission testing, strain data and Self-sensing fibre data. The fabrication and testing of the samples was performed successfully. The testing procedure and analysis of results demonstrates the accurate use of acoustic emission and the potential of self-sensing fibres in detecting damage in composite materials.