Composite structure and method for barely visible impact damage detection

1. A composite structure comprising:

a composite body having an outer surface, wherein the composite body is elongated along a span axis; and

a detection layer connected to the outer surface of the composite body, the detection layer comprising a plurality of strips, each strip of the plurality of strips extending from a first extension member to a second extension member of the detection layer, each strip of the plurality of strips having a length, said first extension member and said second extension member extending along a longitudinal axis of the detection layer and being spaced from each other by a distance approximately equal to the length, wherein each strip of the plurality of strips:

comprises a plurality of glass fibers embedded in a matrix material,

is elongated along a detection axis, the detection axis being substantially aligned with the span axis,

is spaced a non-zero distance apart from adjacent strips of the plurality of strips such that a discontinuity is defined between adjacent strips of the plurality of strips, and

has a width that is approximately equal to the non-zero distance between each strip of the plurality of strips.

2. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the detection axis is parallel with the span axis.

3. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the composite body comprises a plurality of carbon fibers embedded in a matrix material.

4. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the composite body comprises a laminate structure comprising a plurality of composite plies, wherein each ply of the plurality of composite plies comprises a plurality of carbon fibers and a matrix material.

5. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the detection layer has a total cross-sectional thickness ranging from about 0.003 inch to about 0.050 inch.

6. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the detection layer comprises a stacked structure comprising at least two plies.

7. The composite structure of claim 6 wherein at least one ply of the stacked structure comprises a cross-sectional thickness ranging from about 0.003 inch to about 0.015 inch.

8. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the non-zero distance is at least 0.05 inch.

9. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein a portion of the composite body is visible at the discontinuity.

10. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the composite body is configured as a blade stringer comprising:

a web portion having a proximal portion and a distal portion; and

a base portion connected to the proximal portion of the web portion,

wherein the detection layer is connected to the distal portion of the web portion.

11. The composite structure of claim 10 wherein the distal portion of the web portion of the blade stringer comprises a trimmed distal-most end.

12. The composite structure of claim 1 further comprising an aircraft skin, wherein the composite body is connected to the aircraft skin.

13. An aircraft comprising the composite structure of claim 1 .

14. The composite structure of claim 1 wherein the detection layer has a ladder-like configuration.

15. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of strips comprises between 2 to 10 strips.

16. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the non-zero distance is about 0.1 inch to about 0.5 inch.

17. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the detection layer and composite body are connected by co-curing.

18. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein the detection layer and composite body are connected by an adhesive.

19. The composite structure of claim 10 , wherein the detection layer is folded over the distal end of the web portion.

20. The composite structure of claim 1 , wherein each discontinuity between each strip is substantially parallel to each strip.