Abstract
The paper presents preliminary numerical and experimental studies of active textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites with embedded sensor-actuator arrays. The goal of the investigations was the assessment of directional sound wave generation capability using embedded sensor-actuator arrays and developed a wave excitation procedure for ultrasound measurement tasks. The feasibility of the proposed approach was initially confirmed in numerical investigations assuming idealized mechanical and geometrical conditions. The findings were validated in real-life conditions on specimens of elementary geometry. Herein, the technological aspects of unique automated assembly of thermoplastic films containing adapted thermoplastic-compatible piezoceramic modules and conducting paths were described.
Highlights
Textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites (TRTC) show a high potential for serial manufacturing of innovative function-integrating lightweight constructions
Due to the textile structure, the layered construction, and the associated specific production processes, such materials enable the possibility for a matrix-homogeneous integration of functional elements such as sensors, actuators, or even electronic circuit boards [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]
State of the art solutions utilize conventional piezoelectric transducers, e.g., macro-fiber composites, or active fiber composites, which are mainly adhesively bonded to the structural components [10,11]
Summary
Textile-reinforced thermoplastic composites (TRTC) show a high potential for serial manufacturing of innovative function-integrating lightweight constructions. Due to the textile structure, the layered construction, and the associated specific production processes, such materials enable the possibility for a matrix-homogeneous integration of functional elements such as sensors, actuators, or even electronic circuit boards [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. The ePreforming technology enables has been named ePreforming and the respective outcome—a functionalized film—is called thea direct coupling of the piezoceramic transducer toathe host structure, which reduces transducer deformation [12,13]. Be the host structure, which reduces deformation losses compared to adhesively-bonded transducers higher for the integrated than bondedshould piezoceramic actuators. A vital prerequisite for this process is the use ofuse thermoplastic-compatible piezoceramic modules modules (TPMs) These modules are based on a piezoceramic functional layer (wafer or fiber (TPMs).
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