The key objectives of the secondment are to:
- Produce a technical summary/position paper evaluating the viability of sensing technologies and accompanying control electronics for evaluating composite component degradation throughout the EV powertrain
- Collect preliminary structural health monitoring (SHM) measurements in simulated EV environments on composite parts and battery cells
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) has accelerated the adoption of lightweight composite materials to enhance efficiency and range. These structures are subject to mechanical, thermal, and environmental stresses that can cause damage—often without visible surface indications, that can lead to catastrophic failure. This secondment will investigate potential sensing modalities, lightweight real-time monitoring electronics, and automated data-fusion and evaluation processes for in-service assessment of composite structures in EV powertrains.
The secondment will explore two different exemplar applications: (i) dynamic components – e.g. carbon fibre filament-wound drive shafts, where fatigue and impact damage can compromise performance, and (ii) static components – battery cells, or composite casings where thermal cycling, vibration, and mechanical shock can lead to structural degradation and safety risks.
By evaluating these techniques under operational conditions, this secondments aims to identify reliable, quantitative monitoring protocols that can be integrated into EV design and maintenance strategies, with the aim of improving EV safety, extending service life, reducing weight and optimising performance for EV powertrains.
Robert Hughes
University of Bristol
Faculty of Science & Engineering, Ultrasonic and Non-Destructive Testing (UNDT) research group
