Glass fibre-reinforced polymer composites (GFRPs) are widely used in the aerospace, automotive, and infrastructure industries due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, excellent thermal and electrical insulation, and corrosion resistance. Despite these advantages, GFRPs are susceptible to operational damage, such as fatigue loading and environmental erosion. Consequently, monitoring the condition of these materials is crucial to ensure their reliability and safety.
There are many methods for monitoring damage in GFRPs, such as structural health monitoring (SHM) using Bragg grating sensors, distributed fibre-optic sensor systems, and non-destructive testing and evaluation (NDT/NDE), which include visual inspection, acoustic emission, ultrasonic testing, optical methods, X-ray, electromagnetic methods, and infrared thermography (IRT). Each of these methods has its specific applications, advantages, and limitations.
This study used infrared thermography (IRT) to monitor damage in GFRP structures. 3D printing technology was utilized to fabricate meshes of two different fill densities from an electrically conductive filament based on a copolyamide hot melt adhesive containing 10% multi-walled carbon nanotubes. These meshes were placed between the 2nd and 3rd layers of GFRP fabricated using the vacuum bag method. IRT tests were carried out before and after impact to evaluate the possibility of monitoring damage with the fabricated conductive meshes. The results showed that 3D printing technology effectively monitors the condition of GFRP structures, which could lead to better diagnostics and extend the life of these materials in various industrial applications.