Deformation reconstruction and crack monitoring in composites using a novel particle inverse method with experimental validation

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15376494.2025.2581832

This study introduces an enhanced formulation of the Particle Inverse Method (PIM) tailored for shape sensing and crack propagation monitoring of laminated composite plates. Building upon the foundational concept of PIM as a novel particle-based structural health monitoring method for isotropic plates, the approach presented herein enables full-field deformation reconstruction and real-time crack propagation monitoring of laminated composite plates from discrete strain measurements, without requiring knowledge of loading conditions or material properties. The method utilizes a mesh-free particle discretization and a nonlocal differential operator inspired by peridynamics to approximate spatial gradients of the displacement field. Through a variational least-squares principle, the algorithm minimizes discrepancies between numerically reconstructed strains and experimental strain data obtained via distributed sensors. A damage parameter is defined based on bond-level interactions to capture the initiation and progression of cracks in composite plates. The proposed framework supports continuous assessment even as damage evolves. The performance of the method is demonstrated through numerical and experimental case studies on composite laminates with various ply configurations and crack orientations. Results confirm the method’s capability to accurately reconstruct full-field displacements while predicting crack opening and propagation behavior, validating its potential for real-time health monitoring of composite structures.