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

该研究项目专注于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，具有内在的传感特性，以提供完整的结构损伤感知。这项工作的目的是通过开发新型的摩擦发光和光催化(TRIP)系统来实现损伤传感的范式转变，该系统利用嵌入式摩擦发光(TL)传感器在材料层面上提供对裂纹萌生和扩展的实时无处不在的检测。Tl晶体将被用来制造包含新型嵌入纳米光电子(CTiN)棒的“神经系统”的“疼痛反应”复合组件。当受到压力时，摩擦发光晶体会发光，指示损伤的位置和程度。发射的光被纳米电子细胞吸收，纳米电子细胞由纳米尺寸的光催化剂材料和碳纳米管组成，作为传感路径向传感站传播信息。要研究的基本问题是TL晶体的放置、光转换以及随后使用新型CTiN棒传输电信号。该项目将通过对嵌入式传感材料系统的系统研究、嵌入式数据传输和传感信息的利用，在不影响结构性能的情况下，提高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.