Nanosecond Pulsed Sensor System for Intrinsic Structural Health & Cure Monitoring

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel method of interrogating the structural condition and cure state of composite materials. It works by propagating a sub-nanosecond voltage pulse along an intrinsic microwave transmission-line fabricated directly in the laminate. The transmission-line is formed using graphite-reinforcing fibers as the conducting path. Changes in pulse propagation are used to monitor changes in cure state, and detect various structural failures such as microcracking, delamination, disbonding, marcelling, and moisture absorption. The fibers are native to the material and constitute zero structural defect, and negligible cost. Applications include graphite composites, glass composites, composite joints, and metal-adhesive joints.The commercial potential will be an inexpensive and spatially continuous structural-health and cure monitoring system with minimal invasiveness.