A resistance-based damage location sensor for carbon-fibre composites

A simple resistance-based sensor is presented, consisting of wire contacts embedded at the edge of a carbon-fibre composite. The sensor proved capable of detecting barely visible damage, induced by a falling-dart impact tester, and accurately providing the damage location. It also proved possible to follow the progression of damage with increasing impact energies. The analysis of the results was straightforward and required no complex calculations. The incorporation of the sensor into practical composite manufacturing routines is also straightforward.