A comprehensive review on fiber-based self-sensing polymer composites for in situ structural health monitoring
Yinping Tao, Rongmin Zhang, Xianming Hu, Yunfu Ou, Musu Ren, Jinliang Sun, Han Zhang, Ton Peijs
Abstract
Polymer composites have played a crucial role in diverse industries, such as aerospace, marine, energy, automotive, and civil engineering, utilizing their lightweight, high strength-to-weight ratio, and resistance to fatigue and corrosion. However, conventional composites often lack intrinsic damage detection capabilities, posing potential safety risks. The development of self-sensing polymer composites with in situ structural health monitoring (SHM) capabilities presents a promising solution to this challenge. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advances in self-sensing polymer composites, focusing on integrated piezoresistive fibrous sensors, fiber optic sensors, and magnetic fibrous sensors. The working principles, sensing mechanisms, and damage detection capabilities of each technique are discussed, alongside a critical evaluation of their advantages and limitations. In particular, a direct comparison of damage detection capabilities of these sensing techniques is provided to highlight their effectiveness in various SHM applications. Finally, emerging challenges and future research directions in self-sensing composites are examined, emphasizing the need for scalable manufacturing approaches, long-term reliability assessment, and integration with data-driven predictive models. The combination of nanomaterials, hybrid sensing strategies, and artificial intelligence assisted diagnostics is expected to drive the next generation of intelligent structural monitoring systems for enhanced safety and reliability in composite structures.