Prediction of mechanical properties of carbon nanotube‒carbon fiber reinforced hybrid composites using multi-scale finite element modelling

The mechanical properties of unidirectional carbon nanotube (CNT)‒carbon fiber (CF) reinforced hybrid composites are scrutinized. Due to lack of comprehensive model, a 3D multi-scale model considering debonding damage is developed, covering from nano-to macro-scale. Considering three different configurations of grown CNT’s on the fiber surface, the interfacial behavior is investigated. The results reveal that: (I) an extraordinary influence of CNT’s on the fiber-matrix interfacial properties, particularly in the composites containing axially and randomly oriented CNT’s, (II) considering two hybrid systems, composites with CNT’s‒coated fibers demonstrate outstanding improvements in the interfacial behaviors than those with CNT’s in matrix, (III) the pronounced effect of non-bonded interphase region on the interfacial properties, while no influence on the Young’s moduli is observed, and (Ⅳ) the presence of CNT’s augments the transverse Young’s modulus, however, it exhibits negligible effect on the longitudinal direction. The outcomes are consistent with experimental data and can be utilized in designing of CNT‒CF multi-scale composites

A Critical Review on the Structural Health Monitoring Methods of the Composite Wind Turbine Blades

With increasing turbine size, monitoring of blades becomes increasingly im-portant, in order to prevent catastrophic damages and unnecessary mainte-nance, minimize the downtime and labor cost and improving the safety is-sues and reliability. The present work provides a review and classification of various structural health monitoring (SHM) methods as strain measurement utilizing optical fiber sensors and Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG’s), active/ pas-sive acoustic emission method, vibration‒based method, thermal imaging method and ultrasonic methods, based on the recent investigations and prom-ising novel techniques. Since accuracy, comprehensiveness and cost-effectiveness are the fundamental parameters in selecting the SHM method, a systematically summarized investigation encompassing methods capabilities/ limitations and sensors types, is needed. Furthermore, the damages which are included in the present work are fiber breakage, matrix cracking, delamina-tion, fiber debonding, crack opening at leading/ trailing edge and ice accre-tion. Taking into account the types of the sensors relevant to different SHM methods, the advantages/ capabilities and disadvantages/ limitations of repre-sented methods are nominated and analyzed