Integrated Active Fiber Composite Elements: Characterization for Acoustic Emission and Acousto-ultrasonics

Abstract

Active fiber composites (AFC) made from piezoelectric fibers show promising potential, not only as actuators integrated into smart composites but also as sensors. Selected sensor properties of AFC elements are investigated with methods from acoustic emission sensor characterization and verification and from acousto-ultrasonic testing. Model experiments with AFC elements integrated in simple composite structures show that the various approaches for analysis of acousto-ultrasonic data yield indications of damage accumulation.