LAUSR

Abstract The present study presents an experimental investigation into the real-time monitoring of the drilling process of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composite with Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) buckypaper sensor. The spray-vacuum filtration method was employed to synthesize CNTs buckypaper sensor and then embedded into the GFRP to serve two purposes namely interlaminar enhancement and sensor monitoring the drilling process of the GFRP. Both modes I and II interlaminar fracture toughness tests were conducted to ascertain the enhancement ability of the buckypaper. Considerable improvements in both modes of fracture toughness were recorded in the specimens with CNTs buckypaper interlayer. For the CNTs buckypaper acting as a sensor, drilling experiments were carried out on the GFRP where real-time information of the drilling process particularly the drilling tool position could be predicted. This can be crucial in cases where drilling parameters like the feed rate have to be changed at a certain drilling depth in order to reduce or eliminate the exit delamination. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was finally employed to study the enhancement ability of the CNTs buckypaper and the microstructure of the drilled holes. The current work has substantiated the possibility of using CNT buckypaper both as an interlaminar enhancement and as a sensor to monitor the drilling process.