Abstract: Composite material can include a matrix material, a fiber dispersed in the matrix material, and an ultraviolet (UV)-light sensitive mechanophore grafted to a surface of the fiber. A method for making a fiber-reinforced polymer composite can include contacting a fiber in a first solution, rinsing and then drying intermediate fiber, contacting dried fiber in a third solution, rinsing, and then drying the rinsed fiber thereby generating functionalized fiber that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. The functionalized fiber can be combined with a polymer matrix material, cured, and irradiated, thereby generating a fiber-reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Composite material can include a matrix material, a fiber dispersed in the matrix material, and an ultraviolet (UV)-light sensitive mechanophore grafted to a surface of the fiber. A method for making a fiber-reinforced polymer composite can include contacting a fiber in a first solution, rinsing and then drying intermediate fiber, contacting dried fiber in a third solution, rinsing, and then drying the rinsed fiber thereby generating functionalized fiber that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. The functionalized fiber can be combined with a polymer matrix material, cured, and irradiated, thereby generating a fiber-reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Composite material can include a matrix material, a fiber dispersed in the matrix material, and an ultraviolet (UV)-light sensitive mechanophore grafted to a surface of the fiber. A method for making a fiber-reinforced polymer composite can include contacting a fiber in a first solution, rinsing and then drying intermediate fiber, contacting dried fiber in a third solution, rinsing, and then drying the rinsed fiber thereby generating functionalized fiber that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. The functionalized fiber can be combined with a polymer matrix material, cured, and irradiated, thereby generating a fiber-reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting mechanophore damage in a composite material where the mechanophores are embedded in a matrix of the composite material. A mechanical load is applied to the composite material. A damage precursor signal is generated as a result of the mechanical load and is detected before yield of the mechanophore embedded composite material. Detecting the damage precursor signal may include illuminating the mechanophore embedded composite material with UV light to excite the embedded mechanophores, capturing fluorescent emissions of the embedded mechanophores with a UV camera, and filtering light received at the UV camera based on an emission wavelength of the mechanophores. Alternatively, the damage precursor signal may be detected using spectra from an evanescent wave distorted by the mechanophore embedded composite material using an attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) system.

Abstract: Composite material can include a matrix material, a fiber dispersed in the matrix material, and an ultraviolet (UV)-light sensitive mechanophore grafted to a surface of the fiber. A method for making a fiber-reinforced polymer composite can include contacting a fiber in a first solution, rinsing and then drying intermediate fiber, contacting dried fiber in a third solution, rinsing, and then drying the rinsed fiber thereby generating functionalized fiber that is sensitive to ultraviolet light. The functionalized fiber can be combined with a polymer matrix material, cured, and irradiated, thereby generating a fiber-reinforced polymer composite.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for detecting mechanophore damage in a composite material where the mechanophores are embedded in a matrix of the composite material. A mechanical load is applied to the composite material. A damage precursor signal is generated as a result of the mechanical load and is detected before yield of the mechanophore embedded composite material. Detecting the damage precursor signal may include illuminating the mechanophore embedded composite material with UV light to excite the embedded mechanophores, capturing fluorescent emissions of the embedded mechanophores with a UV camera, and filtering light received at the UV camera based on an emission wavelength of the mechanophores. Alternatively, the damage precursor signal may be detected using spectra from an evanescent wave distorted by the mechanophore embedded composite material using an attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) system.