Self-Healing Sandwich Composites

这项研究的主要目的是开发一种能够在极端事件(如多重动力冲击)后进行自我修复的结构系统，并对修复效果进行自我评估。这种自我修复能力将通过嵌入玻璃纤维的室温固化环氧树脂修复系统来实现。传输系统将与光纤传感器网络集成在一起，光纤传感器网络通过光聚合树脂中的自写入现象进行自我修复。文中还将推导出整个过程的多物理预测计算模型，该模型考虑了光聚合、光波在非均质结构中的传播、光-机械相互作用和夹层复合材料损伤力学等相互关联的过程。该模型将应用于自修复结构系统的寿命预测。结构系统通过关键部件的自修复而在地震、爆炸载荷或多重冲击等灾难性事件中幸存下来的能力，将显著提高关键机身和民用基础设施系统的安全性。此外，修复后的结构评估其结构状况的能力对于评估进一步修复的必要性将是非常宝贵的，并将减少救援人员或结构系统未来使用者的生命损失。本科生将通过NSF REU计划被招募到研究小组工作，PI将参加针对北卡罗来纳州代表不足群体的学业天赋优秀生的计划。

The major aim of the proposed research is the development of a self-healing structural system that can self-repair after extreme events, such as multiple dynamic impacts, and also self-assess the effectiveness of the repair. This self-healing capability will be accomplished through a room temperature cure epoxy resin healing system delivered through embedded glass fibers. The delivery system will be integrated with an optical fiber sensor network that self-repairs through the phenomenon of self-writing in photopolymerizable resins. A multi-physics predictive computational model of the entire process that accounts for the interrelated processes of photopolymerization, lightwave propagation in a heterogeneous structure, opto-mechanical interactions and sandwich composite damage mechanics will also be derived. The model will be applied to lifetime predictions of the self-healed structural system.The ability of a structural system to survive catastrophic events such as earthquakes, blast loads, or multiple impacts through self-repair of critical components would significantly improve the safety of critical airframes and civil infrastructure systems. Furthermore, the capability of the repaired structure to assess its structural condition would be invaluable to evaluate the necessity of further repairs, and would reduce the loss of life for rescue workers or future users of the structural system. Undergraduate students will be recruited to work with the research group through the NSF REU program and the PIs will participate in programs for academically gifted high school students from underrepresented groups across the state of North Carolina.