Damage detection in composite structures using autonomous wireless systems: simulation & validation

In the European FP6 project ADVICE, units that harvest energy from structural vibrations have been developed. These autonomous units are capable of wireless communication and are used as actuators of guided ultrasonic waves used to identify changes in structural behaviour. The growing use of composite structures in aeronautics brings new challenges to be able to predict and detect damage that may occur in these new materials. Part of the ADVICE project focused on studying the possibilities of damage detection in structures using Lamb waves. In order to do this, finite element simulations were performed and were compared with experimental data. This paper presents the finite element simulations performed to predict the behaviour of a structural health monitoring system. Using the technique and algorithms developed to quantify the amount of damage, we compare the numerical results to those that were obtained experimentally on a small representative composite structure. This allows evaluating how it is possible to design a monitoring system for composite structures and what needs to be addressed in the future.