Structural Materials, Components and Composites

"Mid¿ is proposing a novel and innovative strain-sensor-grid using pseudoelastic shape memory alloys. By embedding a grid of ultra-thin pseudoelastic wires in an epoxy and encapsulating the embedded grid between two layers of Kapton, the embedded sensorcan be used as a layer in a composite, thus forming a multi-functional structure. When one of the Kapton layers is replaced with a flex-circuit and the sensor wiring is placed on the flex-circuit, wiring is simplified. The instrumentation amplifiers andswitches can also be placed on the flex-circuit to further reduce wiring complexity and increase functionality of the sensor layer.In Phase I Mid¿ will demonstrate that the proposed sensor grids can be fabricated and embedded in composites. The performance of the sensor-grid will be determined in order to quantify the value of the technology for future BMDO systems. In Phase IIprototypes will be developed to demonstrate the feasibility and value of these sensors in the fields of shear stress measurement, active vibration and noise control, shape prediction and structural health monitoring. Commercial viability will also bedemonstrated by applying the technology to human health and performance monitoring. A grid of strain sensors has many applications. The sensed strains can be used to sense shear stresses, to control vibrations, to predict surface shape and to monitor health. The proposed technology will be a standalone product th