Piezoelectric fibres integrated into structural composites

C.R. Bowen, M. Watson, D.N. Betts, P. Harris, M. Bertin, H.A. Kim

OAI: oai:purehost.bath.ac.uk:publications/8162c645-c22b-4ace-a30b-afe12d8f2941 • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00150193.2014.894842

This paper describes the manufacture of structural composites incorporating piezoelectric fibres which are finding interest in applications such as shape-changing applications, sensors to detect mechanical strain or vibration and energy harvesting. In this paper preliminary results are presented for a simple cantilever structure consisting of piezoelectric fibres with planar electrodes that are co-cured within a carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP). Processing methods to embed functional fibres are described along with characterization of the piezoelectric and mechanical properties of the resulting material.