Russia first proposed a new method for non-contact detection of internal stress in polymer composites

Scientists at the Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloying at the Russian National Research University of Technology have for the first time proposed a non-contact method for detecting the internal stress of polymer composites , which makes it easier and more economical to evaluate the damage of the material structure of aircraft or hull components to predict faults. Related academic articles are published in the Journal of Alloys and Compounds.

Composite materials are widely used in the transportation sector. In order to assess the quality and durability of materials, it is important to evaluate the internal stress of the entire structure, both in the manufacturing and in the use phase. Some composites have an internal stress of 95% of the tensile strength after production, that is, a little more stress, the material will crack.

Andrei Stapashkin, senior researcher at the Composites Center of the Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloying, Russian Research University of Technology, explains: "The method of detecting composite structural stress is often inconvenient. For example, the non-contact method can only detect existing The defect does not provide information on the existing stress of the material and its distribution within the structure. The traditional stress evaluation method is contact type and needs to be bonded to the material. The result is that the stage before the defect occurs is not contactless. Method coverage."

The stress state of the material surrounding the microwire affects the material in the wire reacting to the external magnetic field. Accordingly, non-contact measurement can be performed without touching sensitive components. The sensitive component does not need to be pasted because it is embedded inside the material at the required depth during the production phase.

This technology makes the evaluation of the composite state state easier, faster, and more economical, not only to detect faults, but also to predict faults using a non-contact approach.

This test method has been highly evaluated by a number of representatives in the aerospace industry and composite materials developers. Andrei Steppakin said that the research team must now "go out of the lab" and develop sensor and measurement system prototypes based on laboratory equipment.