Guided wave-based SHM for testing – A composite fuselage under mechanical load

This study explores the use of guided wave-based structural health monitoring (GW-SHM) for structural testing of aircraft composite structures. The research presents the results of a full-scale test on a composite fuselage panel involving realistic impact damage, mechanical loading with three representative load cases, and temperatures ranging from 12 to 30°C. The dataset generated is then used to analyze the interaction between environmental and operational factors and damage effects on GW propagation. The analysis reveals that both load and temperature can cause variations in time-of-flight and amplitude of a similar order of magnitude, with temperature-induced changes distributed quite uniformly, while load effects exhibit a pronounced effect along the direction of the applied load. Furthermore, the detectability of realistic damage under varying environmental and operational conditions (EOCs) is examined. The full-scale structural test provides valuable insights into the implementation of GW-SHM in composite aircraft structures under varying load and temperature conditions. The results demonstrate that relevant impact damage can be detected under changing EOCs, confirming the suitability of the system for application in a full-scale fatigue test of a door surrounding structure.