Abstract: Composite materials cure monitoring system and method based on the use of piezotransducers that can be activated by external signals and that, as a result of this activation, can generate elastic waves that can be detected by same, or distinct, piezotransducers distributed over the structure. The received signals are, then, processed by a dedicated acquisition and processing system with the objective to control the composite material cure process.

Abstract: Novel application of piezotransducers to generate elastic waves with shear and longitudinal wave components. A piezotransducer rosette is attached (embedded or surface-bonded) to the monitored structure. This rosette consists of at least three piezotransducers. The entire system may consist of many rosettes. Piezotransducers 3, 4 and 5 are activated using an adequate electric signal, for example, a frequency sweep. Activated piezoelements undergo deformations that are transmitted to the structure 1, generating elastic waves that may be used to interrogate the structure. Generated waves characteristics depend on the characteristics of the signals fed to each of the rosette elements.