A printed piezoelectric sensor can detect impacts and vibration and convert them into electrical signals. The printed piezoelectric sensors consist of a 3-layer structure, which consists of a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a top electrode. The bottom and top electrodes are made by printing silver paste onto a flexible substrate. Between the electrodes, […]
#MorphoExplains
What Are Fiber Bragg Gratings?
Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) are optical interference filters that are inscribed into optical fibers with UV light. FBG sensors consist of an optical fiber containing a series of microscopic gratings. The gratings reflect a specific wavelength of light while allowing other wavelengths to pass through. By analyzing changes in the pattern of the reflected light, […]
Carbon fiber in aerospace applications
Even if the first carbon fibers were produced by Thomas Edison and Joseph Swan as filaments in their incandescent lamps, only in recent years they are becoming an essential material for aerospace applications due to their mechanical properties which include high strength, low weight, and good durability. What is carbon fiber? Carbon fiber is a […]
Metal−Polymer Composites Materials
Environmental sustainability is one of the main challenges faced by today’s aviation industry. Aerospace structures require high strength and stiffness; thus, they have traditionally been made from metals. However, composite materials are gaining increased use in aircraft and industry to reduce weight, contributing to a significant reduction in fuel consumption and carbon footprint. The use […]
Structural Health Monitoring, the MORPHO approach
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) technologies for damage detection, diagnosis, and prognosis in aerospace structures are recognized as a key solution to increase aviation safety and to simultaneously decrease operating, maintenance, and repair costs. SHM enables a novel maintenance approach based on the actual condition of the airframe, mitigating operating costs induced by scheduled inspections. The […]