Multifunctional Composite for Integrated Strain, Damage and Temperature Sensing, Phase I

Potential NASA Commercial Applications: The proposed self-sensing structural material is a critical component for many of NASA's deep space mission architectures and future programs. As outlined in NASA's Materials, Structure, Mechanical Systems, and Manufacturing Roadmap, multifunctional materials are vital to future active vehicle flight control systems and for providing real-time feedback about the strain and damage state of structures. In "real-time self-aware" vehicles, multifunctional materials will be used to identify, locate, and diagnosis the health of a structural component and trigger repair maintenance activities. Light-weight multifunctional composites will also contribute to NASA's long-term vision for Virtual Digital Fleet Leader (VDFL) and to the paradigm of greater system integration and autonomy without added mass or volume. Physics-based modeling and understanding in composite systems will also be aided by self-monitoring materials, allowing for the development of more efficient structural configurations and reduced reliance on physical testing. These advances will facilitate accelerated testing schedules, improved structural certification analysis, cost-effective system development and vehicle sustainment with less mass and more efficient designs. Most critically, multifunctional composite materials offer a light-weight, high performance route to ensuring the safety, reliability, integrity, and lifetime critical to mission success. More »