Harnessing Photonic Pathways for Integrated Damage Sensing and Autonomous Self-healing in Microvascular Composites
Abstract
This proposal details an interdisciplinary research effort to develop multifunctional fibercomposites with synchronous self-sensing and self-healing capabilities. The new platform combines microvascular networks for liquid photo-chemistry transport to cracks with optical fibers for light-based polymerization (healing) and in situ structural health monitoring (sensing). Self-sensing of both internal damage and also self-repair will provide real-time feedback of mechanical stasis. Pursuing these goals, the project builds upon recent progress in self-healing polymers and vascularization strategies, optical fiber interrogation, and dynamic chemistries. Leveraging the latest in sacrificial materials and 3D printing for multidimensional templating, a vascularization strategy that is compatible with aerospace composites and embedded optical fibers (OFs) will be established. OF incorporation within fiber-composites engenders pathways for luminous energy delivery to internal fractures for autonomous healing, but also in situ monitoring of photo-polymerization. Self-sensing via OF interrogation, at wavelengths outside healing agent absorption, will afford an orthogonal modality to relate photo-polymerization with mechanical self-recovery in a remotely accessible, non-destructive manner. Moreover, by developing constituent architectures that can repair fluidic conduits for continued healing agent delivery and also restore optical pathways for sustained light transmission, repeated healing-sensing cycling will be enabled. Such ‘opto-vascular’ composites with synergistic self-healing-sensing capabilities have immediate application in aerospace structures. The envisioned platform holds potential to reduce size, weight, and power (SWaP) requirements while improving performance, reliability, and extending useful lifetime. This breakthrough technology will provide radically enhanced tactical capabilities for competitive advantage in Department of Defense (DoD) operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 06, 2024
- Source ID
- FA95502310480
Entities
People
- Jason F Patrick
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- North Carolina State University
- United States Air Force