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Analysis of the condition of thin-walled composite structures based on the results of experiments conducted at variable temperature by acoustic emission
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  • Published: 22 February 2026

Analysis of the condition of thin-walled composite structures based on the results of experiments conducted at variable temperature by acoustic emission

  • Tomasz Kopecki1,
  • Lukasz Swiech1,
  • Patryk Rozylo2,
  • Pawel Wysmulski2,
  • Anna Falkowska3 &
  • …
  • Adam Tomczyk3 

Scientific Reports , Article number:  (2026) Cite this article

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We are providing an unedited version of this manuscript to give early access to its findings. Before final publication, the manuscript will undergo further editing. Please note there may be errors present which affect the content, and all legal disclaimers apply.

Subjects

  • Engineering
  • Materials science
  • Physics

Abstract

This paper presents considerations for interpreting acoustic emission results in combination with equilibrium paths obtained from experiments conducted using a testing machine and a digital image correlation system. The experiments were performed on thin-walled carbon-epoxy composite profiles. Two types of samples with different shapes were tested at various temperatures. The samples had identical lay-up configurations. The primary objective of the research was to perform a quantitative and qualitative assessment of composite material damage using independent experimental testing techniques, including digital image correlation (DIC) and acoustic emission. An additional aspect was to assess the impact of temperature on the stability and load-bearing capacity of thin-walled composite structures under variable thermal conditions (negative and positive temperatures). The paper used experimental, non-destructive testing methods to evaluate how two types of composite structures behave under different conditions and under simultaneous temperature variations.

Data availability

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article.

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Funding

The research leading to these results has received funding from the commissioned task entitled “VIA CARPATIA Universities of Technology Network named after the President of the Republic of Poland Lech Kaczyński” contract no. MEiN/2022/DPI/2575 action entitled “Iskra – building inter-university research teams”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aerospace Engineering, Rzeszow University of Technology, Powstancow Warszawy 8, Rzeszow, Poland

    Tomasz Kopecki & Lukasz Swiech

  2. Department of Machine Design and Mechatronics, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 36, Lublin, Poland

    Patryk Rozylo & Pawel Wysmulski

  3. Department of Mechanics and Applied Computer Science, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45C, Bialystok, Poland

    Anna Falkowska & Adam Tomczyk

Authors
  1. Tomasz Kopecki
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  2. Lukasz Swiech
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  3. Patryk Rozylo
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  4. Pawel Wysmulski
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  5. Anna Falkowska
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  6. Adam Tomczyk
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Contributions

Conceptualization- TK, LS, AT Data curation - PR, PW, AT Formal analysis - TK, LS, AF Funding acquisition - TK, LS, AF Investigation - PR, PW, AF Methodology - PR, PW, AT Project administration - TK, LS, AT Resources - PR, PW, AF Software - TK, LS, AF Supervision - PR, PW, AT Validation - TK, LS, AF Visualization - PR, PW, AF Writing – original draft - TK, LS, AT Writing – review & editing - PR, PW, AT.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pawel Wysmulski.

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Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Cite this article

Kopecki, T., Swiech, L., Rozylo, P. et al. Analysis of the condition of thin-walled composite structures based on the results of experiments conducted at variable temperature by acoustic emission. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40593-5

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  • Received: 18 August 2025

  • Accepted: 13 February 2026

  • Published: 22 February 2026

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40593-5

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Keywords

  • Temperature impact
  • Thin-walled composite structures
  • Post-buckling
  • Load-carrying capacity
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