Release Time:2019-09-16  Hits:

Indexed by: Journal Article

Date of Publication: 2018-10-01

Journal: COMPOSITES PART A-APPLIED SCIENCE AND MANUFACTURING

Included Journals: SCIE

Volume: 113

Page Number: 40-52

ISSN: 1359-835X

Key Words: Carbon nanotubes and nanofibers; Nanocomposites; Electrical properties; Mechanical properties

Abstract: This study investigated the strain and damage self-sensing capabilities of basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) laminates fabricated with carbon nanofibers (CNFs)/epoxy composites subjected to tensile loadings. The conduction mechanisms based on the tunnel conduction and percolation conduction theories as well as the damage evolution were also explored. A compensation circuit with a half-bridge configuration was proposed. The results indicated the resistivity of the CNFs/BFRP laminates and CNFs/epoxy composites exhibited similar change rule, indicating that the conductive networks of CNFs/BFRP laminates were governed by CNFs/epoxy composites. With the increase of strain under monotonic tensile loading, the electrical resistance response could be classified into three stages corresponding to different damage modes. This confirmed CNFs/BFRP laminates have excellent self-sensing abilities to monitor their internal damages. Moreover, stable and repeatable strain self-sensing capacity of the CNFs/BFRP laminates was verified under cyclic tensile loading because the electrical resistance varied synchronously with the applied strain.