Mechanoluminescent Materials for Structural Health Monitoring

Various advanced sensor technologies (e.g. fiber Bragg grating, piezoelectric sensor) can detect damage, but require constant power, have large form factor, high cost in sensor interrogation, and data processing.\nUtilize mechanoluminescent (ML) materials for self-powered structural health monitoring of fiber reinforced polymer composites. \nGround test of ML-composite material on aerospace structure to determine feasibility and characterize properties. Complementary to existing EPSCoR research effort.

Autonomously detect internal delamination of composites and harvest energy from dynamic motion. Design of multifunctional materials and composites. Mechanoluminscent optoelectronic sensors is contributing technology in the development of multifunctional materials and composites for structural diagnosis, prognosis, and energy harvesting. Advanced manufacturing of multifunctional structural composites can decrease cost and increase knowledge for future NASA vehicles and any industry requiring health monitoring of composites.

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