Investigation on autonomous healing for GFRP composite using cyanoacrylate adhesives

Abstract

An investigation into smart structures with a vascular healing system using cyanoacrylate (CA) adhesive is presented in this thesis. The flexibility in the functional role of a smart structure involves the structure executing its primary operation(s) while also being at liberty to initiate damage repair without any external intervention. Many of the high performance engineering applications now utilise the light weight - high strength benefit of fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composites as their main load bearing component. They are found in new generation sports vehicles, aircraft fuselage, megawatt wind turbine blades (WTB) etc. However, FRP composites are susceptible to the development of cracks from stress concentration, low velocity impact damage and are prone to delamination. Their failures are often characterised by insufficient warnings and can be catastrophic.