Development of embedded sensor models in composite laminates for structural health monitoring

A framework is developed to study the transient analysis of composite laminated plates with embedded discrete and continuous sensors in the presence of delaminations. The computational modeling involves development of a finite element scheme using an improved layerwise laminate theory to model laminates of arbitrary thickness. Parametric studies are conducted using laminated plates with both embedded sensors and continuous sensor architecture. The response of the plates under both low-frequency vibration and high-frequency acoustic emission are investigated. The effects on plate displacement and sensor outputs due to delaminations are studied. The scattering of the acoustic emission caused by the presence of delaminations is also investigated. It is expected that the developed model would be a useful tool in simulation studies aimed at characterizing the presence of delaminations in composite laminated structures.