Multistage fatigue life monitoring on carbon fibre reinforced polymers enhanced with multiwall carbon nanotubes

In this study, CNTs were used as modifiers of the epoxy matrix of quasi-isotropic carbon fibre reinforced laminates. The prepared laminates were subjected to tensile loading and tension tension fatigue and, the changes in the longitudinal resistance were monitored via a digital multimeter. In addition, acoustic emission and acoustoultrasonic techniques were used for monitoring the fatigue process of the laminates. The nanoenhanced laminates, on the one hand, exhibited superior fatigue properties and on the other hand, they demonstrated the full potential of the material to be used as an integrated sensor to monitor the fatigue life.