Investigation of failure mechanisms of notched aluminum plates repaired with composite patches using acoustic emission method

Structures during their lifetime experience plenty of static and dynamic loads. These loads cause failure or undermine the structures. So, reinforcement or repairing failed parts is one way to repair out of service structures. Composite materials have been used to reinforce structures. These materials enjoy advantages such as the proportion of their strength to their weight. As these structures get exposed to some load a number of failures get introduced. This research investigates the failure mechanisms of a notched 2024-T3 aluminum plate repaired with a composite patch using visual and acoustic emission methods. After constructing the specimens, tensile test has been conducted, and acoustic emission sensors have been stocked on the surface of the plate, so that they can record acoustic data. At the first stage, mechanical data obtained from the specimens in different states based on the number of layering have been analyzed. At the second stage, acoustic data, obtained from recording of acoustic emission signals, have been compared with the mechanical data. Also the images obtained from SEM were used to investigation of damages. According to this research, it is identified that a reasonable correspondence between the results obtained from mechanical and acoustic data and the desired functionality of the acoustic emission method in determining failure mechanism in those specimens that are repaired with composite patches.