High performance estimations of delamination of graphite/epoxy laminates with electric resistance change method

Delamination of laminated composites is usually invisible or difficult to detect visually. Delamination causes low reliability for primary structures. Automatic systems for in-service delamination identifications are desired to improve low reliability. The present study employs an electric resistance change method for delamination detection. Since the method adopts reinforcement carbon fiber itself as sensors for delamination detection, this method does not reduce static or fatigue strength; also, the method is applicable to existing structures. Authors have found that the electric resistance change method with response surfaces is very effective experimentally and analytically. However, a large error of estimation remains for estimation of delamination location. In the present study, a new data processing procedure is proposed to improve performance of estimations of delamination location. The new method is applied to laminated composite beams. A delamination crack of a laminated composite beam is monitored with the new method using FEM analyses. As a result, the method reveals excellent performance of estimations of delamination location even for new data not used in regression equations. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.