ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT ASSEMBLIES AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS INCORPORATING SAME

摘要

A structural health monitoring arrangement includes a component formed of fibre reinforced composite material with a plurality of electrical conducting fibres intrinsic to the composite defining electrical paths that run through the composite. The paths act as sensing paths running through the material and a detector watches for changes in electrical property indicative of a structural event. The paths may be configured as an open or a closed node grid whose electrical continuity is monitored directly or indirectly. Alternatively they may be fibres having a piezoresistive property and the changes in resistance may be monitored.