Innovations in Smart Materials and Integrated Structural Health Monitoring in the Australian Defence Force

Abstract

The Australian Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) has established a leading-edge program to enable the development and transitioning of innovative Smart Materials and Structures technology across the spectrum from fundamental science to use in the field. This program extends and harnesses technology in the area of Smart Materials, Sensors and Systems, in order to increase safety of Defence aircraft, ships, submarines and vehicles, increase availability, reduce the cost of asset ownership and operations, and enhance overall military capability. The program has linkages into broad networks, with strong university and industry relationships, and is also very relevant to the management of civil infrastructure and other equipment. We present here an overview of some key research areas within the DSTO Smart Materials and Structures Initiative, highlighting developments in : (i) Smart Materials, including environmentallyfriendly coatings that exhibit properties of greater flexibility and durability for aerospace applications, nano-crystalline coatings that provide increased wear resistance, and Defence applications for carbon nanotubes; (ii) Smart Sensing, including chemical, structural fatigue, fuel contamination, environmental degradation, corrosion and its precursors, and overheating and mechanical wear; and (iii) Smart Systems that employ innovative techniques to acquire and process data from a range of sensors by harvesting energy from local structures to power microelectronic circuits.