Electrical properties and damage monitoring of SiC-fibre-reinforced glasses

Silicon-carbide-fibre-reinforced glasses have been investigated for the creation of smart materials where the reinforcing fibres have an additional function. The fibres are not only used as a reinforcement but also as electrical sensors to detect the degree of damage or the temperature of the specimen. Because of the fibres’ electrical conductivity and their temperature dependence, the electrical properties of the embedded fibres are used to detect the development of damage due to fibre fracture and delamination during mechanical testing. Furthermore, it is possible to measure changes in the composites due to thermal influence.