Investigation of multifunctional fiber optic sensor in smart composite

Boming Zhang; Zhanjun Wu; Danfu Wang; Shanyi Du

doi:10.1117/1.1355248

1 April 2001 Investigation of multifunctional fiber optic sensor in smart composite

Boming Zhang, Zhanjun Wu, Danfu Wang, Shanyi Du

Optical Engineering, Vol. 40, Issue 4, (April 2001). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1355248

In the autoclave curing of laminates, the viscosity of the resin is very important for controlling the fabrication of composite structures. In this paper it is proposed to measure changes of viscosity of composite resin using fiber optic microbend attenuation. Optical fibers are selected and processed to increase sensitivities. Experimental viscosity measurements for different layup conditions have been made, and the results are compared with those of dielectric measurement. It is found that fiber optic attenuation is sensitive to composite cure monitoring in an autoclave with good reliability, and can indicate the point of lowest viscosity, the gel point, and the end point of the cure. The sensitivity is found to be related to the crossing angle between optical fiber and reinforcing fiber and to the pressure in the cure process. Embedded optical fibers that can be used for cure monitoring and that maintain optical waveguide performance have been developed for use in two sorts of vibration sensors (SMS-A and SMS-B) based on fiber optic vibration-mode statistics. In an experiment using an SMS-A sensor, the sensor precision is evaluated and shows that the measurement results are accurate and credible. A method of evaluating mechanical characteristics by vibration measurement is also described. In an experiment using an SMS-B sensor, measurements of vibration frequencies and amplitudes were made, and the factors that influence their sensitivity and measurement range are discussed.

©(2001) Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)

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Boming Zhang, Zhanjun Wu, Danfu Wang, and Shanyi Du "Investigation of multifunctional fiber optic sensor in smart composite," Optical Engineering 40(4), (1 April 2001). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.1355248

Published: 1 April 2001

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