Systems and Means of Informatics
2026, Volume 36, Issue 3, pp 102-127
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CRACKING IN POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIALS BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
- A. V. Panteleev
- N. V. Turbin
- N. A. Tuchkov
- R. L. Talya
- K. V. Akchupanov
- K. K. Ibrishev
Abstract
The article presents the results of a polymer composite material (PCM) matrix cracking analysis performed using a newly developed method for crack density detection based on computed tomography data. This method allows for the automatic detection and tracking of microcracks across successive tomographic sections. The underlying algorithm is based on modern computer vision concepts.
An aircraft-grade carbon fiber with a 33-layer stacking sequence representative of key aircraft wing structural components such as load-bearing panels and spars, was investigated. Matrix cracking in the PCM samples occurred as a result of the application of cyclic tensile loads. Prior to cyclic loading, quasi-static tensile tests were performed to determine the tensile strength of the samples. The number of applied load cycles was selected experimentally from the conditions for maintaining the integrity of the sample, on the one hand, and the significant development of matrix cracking in the layers on the other. The tomographic image crack search algorithm consists of several stages, including determination of the orientation and thickness boundaries of layers, detecting areas with cracks, and correcting identified cracks based on data obtained in adjacent layers. Scharr and Sobel filters, morphological operations, and binarization were used to process the tomographic images. As a result of the application of the method for the studied PCM, crack density distributions in layers, ratios of long and short cracks, as well as statistical characteristics of the distributions obtained - representing the basis for analyzing PCM crack resistance necessary for the high-quality processing of PCM characterization tests - were obtained.
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[+] About this article
Title
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF CRACKING IN POLYMER COMPOSITE MATERIALS BY COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY
Journal
Systems and Means of Informatics
Volume 36, Issue 3, pp 102-127
Cover Date
2026-11-15
DOI
10.14357/08696527260306
Print ISSN
0869-6527
Publisher
Institute of Informatics Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences
Additional Links
Key words
composite materials; matrix cracking; computed tomography; filtration; binarization; morphological transformations
Authors
A. V. Panteleev  , N. V. Turbin , N. A. Tuchkov , R. L. Talya , K. V. Akchupanov , and K. K. Ibrishev
Author Affiliations
Moscow Aviation Institute (National Research University), 4 Volokolamskoe Shosse, Moscow 125933, Russian Federation
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