Real-time dynamic damage monitoring of ultra-thin-ply composite bonded/bolted joint interference-fit installation based on evolutionary affinity propagation

This research introduced ultra-thin prepregs for designing equal-thickness laminates and conducted experimental tests on interference-fit. The uncertainty of damage, attributed to the bearing and friction exerted by the shank against the hole wall during installation, posed a significant challenge. Moreover, the absence of real-time damage monitoring methods in existing literature. In this paper, we proposed the utilization of acoustic emission (AE) technology in conjunction with the evolutionary affinity propagation (EAP) algorithm to facilitate dynamic, real-time monitoring and classification of damage. The findings indicated that employing ultra-thin in composite interference-fit installations substantially reduced damage to the hole walls. Furthermore, the EAP algorithm surpassed traditional methods in its ability to accurately and efficiently monitor and analyze damage dynamically throughout the interference-fit installation. © 2024 Elsevier Ltd.