A New Approach to the Application of SMA Strain Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring of COPVs

Type-IV composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) enable efficient hydrogen storage but experience severe thermal and mechanical loads that threaten structural integrity, necessitating reliable condition monitoring. This work investigates pseudo-elastic shape-memory alloy (SMA) strain gauges as a cost-effective alternative to fiber-optic systems for monitoring COPVs. Their performance was characterized on composite specimens using four-point bending tests. Additionally, a finite element model analyzed surface-strain behavior as a function of COPV geometry parameters and ambient temperature, enabling identification of optimal quarter-bridge measurement configurations.