Triboluminescent materials can be used to detect structural damage. If triboluminescent materials are embedded in a composite, they will generate light if the composite begins to experience structural failure. A sensor will detect the light and report that failure has occurred. This monitoring can detect failure in its early stages because many composite materials begin to fracture at the microscopic level far in advance of complete failure.

These methods are expensive to implement and can only be used in equipment where detecting early-stage failure can result in high-value savings. Component parts of spacecraft, aircraft, naval vessels, buildings, dams, bridges and other critical structures are where these methods might be used [5].