Instrumentation of integrally stiffened composite panel with fiber Bragg grating sensors for vibration measurements

Abstract

We evaluate the performance of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors for the measurement of dynamic strains in complex composite structures. The particular structure used in this study is an integrally stiffened composite panel for which the stiffeners and skin are fabricated in a single layup and cure process. Surface-mounted FBG sensors are bonded to the panels after curing, whereas embedded FBG sensors are successfully incorporated during the fabrication process. A finite element model was also constructed of the stiffened panel. The panels were subjected to repeated impacts and the post-impact vibration response of the panel was measured through the FBG sensor responses. Little change to the global response of the panel was observed after the repeated impacts, through the dynamic response of the surface-mounted FBGs. Pulsed phase thermography and micro-computer-tomography imaging of the panel confirmed that the damage was localized near the impact locations, producing negligible changes to the global response of the panel. All of the embedded FBG sensors survived the fabrication and multiple impacts; however, as these were embedded close to the neutral axis of the panel, they were not very sensitive to the vibration modes. Excitation of the panel near the first natural frequency did produce a measurable response in the FBG sensors, confirming their functionality.

The Need for Multi-Sensor Data Fusion in Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Aircraft Structures

“…At a global level, the response of the entire structural part is considered to assess the presence of damage. Yet, where a small damage on a coupon level might cause changes in the global behavior of that coupon, its effect on the response of e.g., a wingbox segment or multi-stiffener panel can be minimal, resulting in challenges when one tries to detect such minimal changes in an aircraft structural application [26].…”

Internal Combustion Engine Fault Identification Based on FBG Vibration Sensor and Support Vector Machines Algorithm

“…FBG sensors exhibit compact structure, good insulation, easy installation, high reliability, easy to build sensor networks, and other prominent advantages [5,6]. Accordingly, FBG sensors are considered an ideal choice for detecting engine vibration [7][8][9].…”

Fiber Bragg grating based arterial localization device

“…The aim of vascular localization devices is to locate blood vessels as rapidly and accurately as possible with the least amount of cost and training. With growing popularity of fiber optic sensors as can be seen by the numerous applications in a wide variety of fields [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29], including in medicine [30][31][32][33][34], fiber optic sensing may help bring in the next stage of development in vascular localization devices. The work presented in this paper lays the foundation work for a fiber optics device that can provide visual clues about arterial location information based on measured needle deflections.…”