Smart Piezo-bonded carbon fibre/epoxy composite structure: experiments and finite element simulation

Abstract Smart sensors patched to composite structures assist in the prediction of the mechanical behaviour of the structures. The present paper used finite element modelling and experimental procedures to conduct a detailed study on the response of composite laminate bonded with smart piezoelectric material. Fibre reinforced epoxy composite laminate was fabricated using the vacuum assisted resin transfer method. Test coupons in accordance with ASTM standards were prepared using high-speed and high-pressure abrasive water jet cutting. The mechanical properties of the composites were obtained through material characterization and the material properties were incorporated into the Finite element model. The layer-wise strain rate was computed with the ANSYS^® Composite Prep Post module. A finite element model of a composite with piezoelectric sensor patch was created in ANSYS^® APDL and harmonic analysis was conducted to determine the optimal frequency range for the applied load. An attempt was made to measure the strain by affixing lead zirconate titanate to a carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminate for cantilever configuration, and the LabVIEW^® VI software module was integrated with the NI myDAQ system to detect the corresponding voltage for the excited frequency. The values of the generated voltage through numerical simulations were verified and validated using experimental counterparts.