Integration in sheet metal structures

The direct integration of piezoceramic foil transducers into fiber-reinforced structures can be adapted to generate a highly efficient production process for active sheet metal parts with integrated piezoceramic sensors and actuators. The basic idea is the integration of piezomodules in a semifinished part in a way that allows a subsequent forming without loss of its functionality. Therefore, a relative movement between piezomodule and sheet metals has to be ensured during the forming operation. Forming operations induce strains in the sheet metal. A fixed joint between piezomodule and sheet metal would lead to a damage of the piezoceramic fibers. For forming operations with a double curvature of lower radii, a test of the macrofiber composite (MFC) functionality is required. The elastic material properties of MFC can be retrieved in a homogenization step. The inelastic behavior can be evaluated with tension tests.