7.19 Smart Materials and Health Monitoring of Composites

This chapter starts with a presentation of active materials available for performing the sensing and actuation of smart composite structures. Whereas smart structures have the attributes of adaptability, flexibility, and even “intelligence,” the active materials are the enabling factors that make smart composite structures possible. Examples of smart composite structures are presented and discussed. A review of major damage types to be encountered in high-performance structural composites is presented. The focus is placed on two major challenges for structural health monitoring of advanced composite: (1) impact detection and impact damage localization and quantification; (2) fatigue damage detection and evaluation of remaining useful operational life.