{"id":15764,"date":"2020-04-24T09:02:44","date_gmt":"2020-04-24T08:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.compositestoday.com\/?p=15764"},"modified":"2020-04-24T09:02:46","modified_gmt":"2020-04-24T08:02:46","slug":"researchers-create-self-sensing-3d-printed-composite-components","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.compositestoday.com\/2020\/04\/researchers-create-self-sensing-3d-printed-composite-components\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers create self-sensing 3D Printed Composite Components"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A team of researchers from the Brightlands Material Centre in the Netherlands have created self-sensing 3D printed composite parts which are able to monitor critical structures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-sensing is the ability of a material to sense its own condition which means you don\u2019t need an implanted or attached sensor system reducing costs while increasing durability and sensor coverage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Polymer-matrix composites, containing continuous carbon fibre, are known materials that have self-sensing capabilities based on measurable changes in electrical resistance of the continuous fibres. For example, a self-sensing composite was used for damage detection in a cylinder made by filament winding. The practical importance of such products can potentially be found in structural health monitoring in aeroplanes<\/a> or critical parts of constructions<\/a> like bridges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brightlands Materials Center is combining the self-sensing properties of continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastics<\/a> with fabrication by additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing with continuous fibres enables very precise positioning and orientation of carbon fibres. The carbon fibres are placed at chosen locations inside the product that forms an integral part of the structure. That means that the carbon fibre \u201csensors\u201d are located where they are needed, and multiple fibres could form a range of sensors throughout the part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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