This work presents preliminary efforts to develop structural composite materials which include networks of embedded sensors with decision-making, capabilities that extend the functionality of the composite materials to be information-aware. The next generation of structural systems will include the capability to acquire, process, and if necessary respond to structural and/or other types of information. Work related to the development of embedded arrays of miniature electronic-based microsensors with a structural composite material, such as GFRP, is presented. Although the scale and power consumption of such devices continues to decrease while increasing the functionality, the size of these devices remains large relative to the typical scale of the reinforcing fibers and the interlayer spacing. Therefore, the question of the impact of such devices on the various mechanical properties of the host composite material is both relevant and important. This work characterizes the effects of introducing sensors, or suitable dummy sensors in the form of chip resistors, and commonly used circuit board material, namely G-10/FR4 Garolite on the mechanical properties of the host structural composite material. The typical size of the microelectronic sensing element was similar to 1 mm, and here was orthorhombic. Of particular importance was the effect of the inclusion of such devices on the strength properties of the base composite. Quasi-static three-point bending (short beam) tests were conducted. The characterization concluded that embedding the G-10/FR4 Garolite or two 0805 chip resistors had a negligible effect on the short beam shear strength of the host structural composite material.
