Development of a Triboluminescence and Photocatalysis Based System for Intrinsic Structural Health Monitoring

该研究项目的重点是开发和验证下一代复合材料飞机和其他大型结构的创新技术，这些技术具有固有的传感特性，可以提供完整的结构损伤感知。这项工作旨在通过开发新型摩擦发光和光催化（TriP）系统，在损伤传感领域创造一种范式转变，该系统利用嵌入式摩擦发光（TL）传感器，在材料水平上提供实时的无处不在的裂纹萌生和生长检测。TL晶体将用于制造“疼痛响应”复合组件，该组件包含一种新型的嵌入纳米光电（CTiN）棒的“神经系统”。当受到压力时，摩擦发光晶体会发光，指示出损伤的位置和程度。发射的光被纳米电子电池吸收，纳米电子电池由纳米级光催化剂材料与碳纳米管结合组成，作为感官通道向传感站传播信息。要研究的潜在问题是TL晶体的放置，光转换以及随后使用新型CTiN棒的电信号传输。该项目将通过对嵌入式传感材料系统的系统调查、嵌入式数据传输和传感信息的利用，在不损害结构特性的情况下，发展对飞机结构健康监测的信心。

This research project focuses on developing and validating innovative technologies for next-generation composite aircrafts and other large structures, with intrinsic sensing properties to provide complete structural damage awareness. The work is aimed at creating a paradigm shift in damage sensing through the development of the novel Triboluminescence and Photocatalysis (TriP) system that utilizes embedded triboluminescent (TL) sensors to provide real-time ubiquitous detection of crack initiation and growth at the material level. TL crystals will be used to manufacture "pain responsive" composite components containing a novel "nervous system" of embedded nano-optoelectronic (CTiN) rods. When stressed, triboluminescent crystals emit light, giving an indication of the location and extent of damage. The emitted light is absorbed by nano-electronic cells, which consists of nano-sized photocatalyst material in conjunction with carbon nanotubes to conduct as sensory pathways disseminating information to sensing stations. The underlying issues to be investigated are the placement of TL crystals, light conversion, and the subsequent transmission of electrical signals using the novel CTiN rods.The project will develop confidence in aircraft structural health monitoring through systematic investigations of material systems for embedded sensing, embedded data transfer and utilization of sensory information, without compromising structural properties.