The use of 0-3 piezocomposite embedded Lamb wave sensors for detection of damage in advanced fibre composites

The use of smart damage-detection systems may have considerable benefits for equipment operators. As sensing elements for a health-monitoring array, piezoelectric elements offer potential benefits. In particular, 0-3 piezocomposite elements have been identified as good candidates since they offer the potential for embedment within the advanced fibre composites. Ultrasonic Lamb waves have been shown to offer a technique for large-area damage detection for composites. It has been shown that the use of the So Lamb mode may enable a quantitative estimate of the degree of damage to be obtained. A comparison of various transducer elements for Lamb wave detection is made and the use of embedded 0-3 piezocomposite elements demonstrated.