Researchers at Gdańsk University of Technology are developing an intelligent, multifunctional composite material with self-monitoring, self-heating, and self-healing capabilities. The project, led by Prof. Magdalena Rucka from the Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, aims to create a new class of smart metamaterials that could be used in civil, mechanical, aerospace, automotive, and biomedical engineering.
The composite itself will be a metamaterial—meaning its physical properties will result primarily from its internal structure rather than just the properties of its components (an example of a metamaterial is a honeycomb structure). Two types of materials are being developed. In the first, conductive paths containing carbon particles will be 3D-printed within a polymer matrix. The second type will incorporate continuous carbon fibers embedded into the polymer matrix during the 3D printing process.
“Thanks to their built-in conductivity, these materials will be able to detect their stress state and report potential damage. In some cases, they will also be capable of initiating repair processes by using their conductive properties (electric current flow) to activate mechanisms that regenerate microcracks.” explains Prof. Rucka.
The project leverages advanced 3D printing technologies, including a printer that works with continuous carbon fiber, to create complex components with embedded sensing capabilities. Some of these materials may also act as triboelectric nanogenerators, powering electronic systems autonomously.
The research also includes integrated diagnostics, which involves the simultaneous application of various measurement methods such as digital image correlation, acoustic emission, ultrasonic wave propagation, resistance measurement, and thermography. The aim of this approach is to provide a comprehensive visualization of processes occurring within the material, such as deformation, crack propagation, and structural changes.
“This will be crucial for the development of smart materials. In a broader perspective, the results of the project will significantly contribute to enhancing the safety of structural components across various fields of engineering and improving their new, integrated functionalities,” says Prof. Rucka.
Ph credit: Krzysztof Krzempek
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