Luciana Arronche

Bio: Luciana Arronche is an academic researcher from University of California, Davis. The author has contributed to research in topics: Carbon nanotube & Fibre-reinforced plastic. The author has an hindex of 6, co-authored 11 publications receiving 276 citations.

Detection of Spatially Distributed Damage in Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites.

Abstract: This work describes a novel method of embedded damage detection within glass fiber–reinforced polymer composites. Damage detection is achieved by monitoring the spatially distributed electrical conductivity of a strain-sensitive multiwalled carbon nanotube thin film. First, thin films were spray-deposited directly upon glass fiber mats. Second, using electrical impedance tomography, the spatial conductivity distribution of the thin film was determined before and after damage-inducing events. The resolution of the sensor was determined by drilling progressively larger holes in the center of the composite specimens, and the corresponding electrical impedance tomography response was measured by recording the current–voltage data at the periphery of the monitored composite sample. In addition, the sensitivity to damage occurring at different locations in the composite was also investigated by comparing electrical impedance tomography spatial conductivity maps obtained for specimens with sets of holes drilled at different locations in the sensing area. Finally, the location and severity of damage from low-velocity impact events were detected using the electrical impedance tomography method. The work presented in this study indicates a paradigm shift in the available possibilities for structural health monitoring of fiber-reinforced polymer composites.

Detection of Spatially Distributed Damage in Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composites

Abstract: This work describes a novel method of embedded damage detection within glass fiber–reinforced polymer composites. Damage detection is achieved by monitoring the spatially distributed electrical con...

Influence of carbon nanotube on the piezoresistive behavior of multiwall carbon nanotube/polymer composites

Abstract: The role of the physical properties of multiwall carbon nanotubes on the strain-sensing piezoresistive behavior of multiwall carbon nanotube/polymer composites is systematically studied using three types of multiwall carbon nanotubes as fillers of a brittle thermosetting (vinyl ester) and a tough thermoplastic (polypropylene) polymers under quasi-static tensile loading. Two of the three multiwall carbon nanotubes investigated have similar length, aspect ratio, structural ordering, and surface area, while the third group contains longer multiwall carbon nanotubes with higher structural ordering. The results indicate that longer multiwall carbon nanotubes with higher structural ordering yield higher piezoresistive sensitivity, and therefore are better suited as sensors of elastic and plastic strains of polymer composites. The highest gage factor achieved was approximately 24 and corresponded to the plastic zone of multiwall carbon nanotube/polypropylene composites with the longest nanotubes.

Electrochemical investigation of galvanic corrosion between aluminum 7075 and glass fiber/epoxy composites modified with carbon nanotubes

Abstract: We investigate whether the presence of carbon nanotubes in previously non-conductive composites may cause galvanic corrosion. We focus on aluminum 7075 alloy and glass fiber-reinforced polymers (GFRP), where the epoxy resin is modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Whole aluminum bars were bonded with MWCNT/GFRP in a co-cure, or were connected electrically with the composite through a galvanic cell. The investigation includes characterization of the treated and baseline epoxy resin, high humidity tests at room temperature, full immersion tests in an aggressive environment, and standard galvanic coupling tests in an aggressive environment. Results show that coupling MWCNT/GFRP samples with aluminum 7075 causes approximately doubled corrosion rate and mass loss rate compared to baseline GFRP samples. We envision that this work will impact the research community and indicate the need of careful coupling selection and careful surface treatment between nanomaterials and conventional materials, since the ability to monitor damage in situ is very desirable.

Impact damage sensing of multiscale composites through epoxy matrix containing carbon nanotubes

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are used to provide increased electrical conductivity for polymer matrix materials, thus offering a method to monitor the structure's health. This work investigates the effect of impact damage on the electrical properties of multi- scale composite samples, prepared with woven fiberglass reinforcement and epoxy resin modified with as-received multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Moreover, this study addresses potential bias from manufacturing, and investigates the effectiveness of resistance measurements using two- and four-point probe methods. Transmission electron microscopy and static tensile tests results were used to evaluate, respectively, the dispersion of MWCNTs in the epoxy resin and the influence of the incorporation of these nanoparticles on the static tensile properties of the matrix, and interpret results from the resistance measurements on impacted speci- mens. In this study, the four-point probe method is shown to be much more repeatable and reliable than the two-point probe method. V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 128: 2797-2806, 2013

Tunneling effect in a polymer/carbon nanotube nanocompositestrain sensor

Abstract: A strain sensor has been fabricated from a polymer nanocomposite with multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNT) fillers. The piezoresistivity of this nanocomposite strain sensor has been investigated based on an improved three-dimensional (3D) statistical resistor network model incorporating the tunneling effect between the neighboring carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and a fiber reorientation model. The numerical results agree very well with the experimental measurements. As compared with traditional strain gauges, much higher sensitivity can be obtained in the nanocomposite sensors when the volume fraction of CNT is close to the percolation threshold. For a small CNT volume fraction, weak nonlinear piezoresistivity is observed both experimentally and from numerical simulation. The tunneling effect is considered to be the principal mechanism of the sensor under small strains.

The use of carbon nanotubes for damage sensing and structural health monitoring in laminated composites: a review

Abstract: The increasing use of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRPs) in industries such as aerospace, marine, and automotive, has resulted in a necessity to monitor the structural integrity of composite structures and materials. Apart from development of traditional non-destructive testing methods which are performed off-line, there is a growing need to integrate structural health monitoring (SHM) systems within composite structures. An interesting route toward multifunctional composite materials with integrated SHM capabilities is through the introduction of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in fiber-reinforced composites as this provides not only integrated damage sensing capability, but may, at the same time, also lead to some additional mechanical reinforcement. Since the first use of CNTs for damage sensing in composite laminates, a significant number of studies have dealt with this topic, but a systematic understanding on the use of CNTs in FRPs for SHM is still lacking. Furthermore, a significant gap remains betwe...

Self-sensing concrete enabled by nano-engineered cement–aggregate interfaces

Abstract: The objective of this study was to design a multifunctional cement composite that could not only bear loads but also possessed electromechanical properties that are sensitive to damage. A mainstrea...

Damage detection and conductivity evolution in carbon nanofiber epoxy via electrical impedance tomography

Abstract: Utilizing electrically conductive nanocomposites for integrated self-sensing and health monitoring is a promising area of structural health monitoring (SHM) research wherein local changes in conductivity coincide with damage. In this research we conduct proof of concept investigations using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) for damage detection by identifying conductivity changes and by imaging conductivity evolution in a carbon nanofiber (CNF) filled epoxy composite. CNF/epoxy is examined because fibrous composites can be manufactured with a CNF/epoxy matrix thereby enabling the entire matrix to become self-sensing. We also study the mechanisms of conductivity evolution in CNF/epoxy through electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) testing. The results of these tests indicate that thermal expansion is responsible for conductivity evolution in a CNF/epoxy composite.