Design, Analysis and Manufacturing of a Smart Composite Skateboard with Self-sensing Capability

Tabatabaeian, A., Fotouhi, M. and Harrison, P. (2021) Design, Analysis and Manufacturing of a Smart Composite Skateboard with Self-sensing Capability. 7th International Conference on Mechanics of Composites (MECHCOMP7), Porto, Portugal, 1-3 Sept 2021.

Abstract

Composite materials and structures have witnessed substantial developments over the last few decades. Mechanochromic polymers are a new class of smart composites with the ability to self-report their health condition on-line. The design mechanism in these materials is such that initiation of any force or mechanical stimuli leads to a color change in the composite surface, so that the damage can be monitored and repaired at early stages, resulting in longer fatigue lifetime of the structures. This paper aims to design a novel mechanochromic composite sensor to be used as an overload/damage indication tool on the surface of skateboards. The smart composite skateboard with damage monitoring sensor is then manufactured and tested under different loading conditions. The results clarify that the proposed skateboard could well detect and visualize the damage on the surface/back faces while it is light-weight, high-performance and environmentally friendly. It is also highlighted that the mechanochromic sensors can well act as a structural health monitoring (SHM) system in other composite structures such as wind turbine blades, automotive panels etc.

• Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item
• Additional Information: This work was funded under the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Grant EP/V009451/1 on Next generation of high-performance impact resistant composites with visibility of damage.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Fotouhi, Dr Mohammad and Harrison, Dr Philip and Tabatabaeian, Mr Ali
• Authors: Tabatabaeian, A., Fotouhi, M., and Harrison, P.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Autonomous Systems and Connectivity; College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy

Related URLs

• Organisation

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
310254		Novel architectures for visibility and tolerance of impact damage in composites (VIDCOM)	Mohammad Fotouhi	Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)	EP/V009451/1	ENG - Aerospace Sciences