Crack Damage in Polymers and Composites: A Review

چکیده مقاله

Polymer-based materials are inherently damage prone and extensively used in various applications such as aircrafts, civilian structures, oil and gas platforms and electronics. Over time, the formation of cracks and microscopic damages influences the thermo-mechanical and electrical properties which eventually result in the total failure of the materials. This paper provides an overview on the principal causes of cracking in polymer and composites and summarizes the recent progress in development of non-destructive techniques in cracks detection. Furthermore, the recent progresses in development of bio-inspired self-healing methods in autonomic repair are discussed.