Characterization and evaluation of piezoelectric composite bimorphs for <i>in‐situ</i> acoustic emission sensors

Abstract

Abstract Mixed connectivity composites consisting of a ferroelectric ceramic powder of calcium modified lead titanate dispersed in a polymer matrix have been fabricated into piezoelectric bimorph sensors. The piezoelectric, dielectric and electromechanical coupling coefficients of these sensors have been measured and a full characterization of the electromechanical properties are reported. The suitability of these bimorph transducers as in ‐ situ acoustic emission sensors, embedded into glass‐epoxy laminate plate like structures, has been investigated. A comparison of the performance of these sensors to those of previously investigated monomorph sensors fabricated from the same material has been made.