ELECTRICAL DAMAGE DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A SELF-HEALING POLYMERIC COMPOSITE

摘要

A composite material provided with a damage detection system, the composite material comprising a fibre-reinforced polymeric matrix, wherein the fibre reinforcement comprises electrically conductive fibres and the polymeric matrix comprises a thermosetting polymer and a thermoplastic polymer, and wherein detection means are provided detect a change in resistance of the composite material, said change in resistance indicating the presence of at least one damaged area of the composite material, said detection means comprising a plurality of spaced apart electrodes mounted on an electrically insulating substrate and electrically connected to the electrically conducting fibres.