Characteristics and fabrication of piezoelectric GFRP using smart resin prepreg for detecting impact signals

Abstract To develop a composite that also functions as an impact sensor, a piezoelectric glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) was fabricated using a mixture of Pb(Ni1/3Nb2/3)O3-Pb(Zr, Ti)O3 (PNN-PZT) piezoelectric powder and epoxy as a smart resin. Prepreg sheets were prepared by impregnating glass fiber with the smart resin and the specimen was fabricated by autoclave molding. To utilize the composite as a sensor for detecting impacts, electrodes were added to the two sides of the composite, and the specimen was poled briefly at room temperature to activate its piezoelectric properties. A calibrated and instrumented impact test was conducted to demonstrate impact response and measure the sensitivity; a signal processing device was developed that matched the high impedance of the piezoelectric GFRP. The sensitivity of the piezoelectric GFRP sensor was measured by comparing the impact force signals from an impact hammer with the corresponding output voltage from the sensor. The threshold for detection of impacts was below 15 N. The tests confirmed that the piezoelectric GFRP itself could be utilized as an impact sensor.