Composite materials are used nowadays in all phases of engineering, from Aerospace and infrastructure to automotive and sporting equipment. Of major significance has been the integration of actuators and sensors with composites that gave birth to the smart composite structures.
The presentation deals with the author’s research results in a number of analytical and experimental aspects of smart composites. It starts with the introduction of smart materials and their major components. Several practical applications of smart structures are discussed. That is followed by the introduction to the theory of smart structures which allows their mechanical analysis and design optimization.
Micromechanical modeling of smart composite materials and structures is further introduced on the basis of the Asymptotic Homogenization method. This method is mathematically justified and it provides the accurate determination of both effective and local properties of smart composites. General theory is applied to the analysis of smart reinforced composite shells and sandwich structures. Special attention is paid to the modeling of carbon nanotubes on the basis of the modified asymptotic homogenization techniques.
The final part of presentation is related to the smart composite structures incorporating fiber optic sensors. The processing, experimental evaluation and application of pultruded FRP reinforcements with embedded Fabry-Perot and Bragg Grating fiber optic sensors is discussed. Smart composite reinforcements with integrated fiber optic sensors have been successfully applied for the structural health monitoring of the innovative concrete bridges and critical infrastructure.