SBIR Phase I: Nanosecond Pulsed Sensor System for Intrinsic Structural Health & Cure Monitoring

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）一期项目将开发一种新的方法来询问复合材料的结构状况和固化状态。它的工作原理是沿着直接在层压板上制作的本征微波传输线传播亚纳秒电压脉冲。该传输线采用石墨增强纤维作为导电路径形成。脉冲传播的变化用于监测固化状态的变化，并检测各种结构故障，如微裂纹、分层、脱粘、嵌套和吸湿。纤维是天然材料，构成零结构缺陷，可忽略不计的成本。应用范围包括石墨复合材料、玻璃复合材料、复合材料接头和金属粘合接头。其商业潜力将是一种廉价的、空间连续的结构健康和治疗监测系统，具有最小的侵入性。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will develop a novel method ofinterrogating the structural condition and cure state of composite materials. It works by propagating a sub-nanosecond voltage pulse along an intrinsic microwave transmission-line fabricated directly in the laminate. The transmission-line is formed using graphite-reinforcing fibers as the conducting path. Changes in pulse propagation are used to monitor changes in cure state, and detect various structural failures such as microcracking, delamination, disbonding, marcelling, and moisture absorption. The fibers are native to the material and constitute zero structural defect, and negligible cost. Applications include graphite composites, glass composites, composite joints, andmetal-adhesive joints.The commercial potential will be an inexpensive and spatially continuous structural-health and cure monitoring system with minimal invasiveness.