Cylindrical Shell Health Monitoring and Hoop Strain Sensing System

Luna Innovations is proposing to develop a fiber optic based strain measurement system designed specifically for the challenges associated with measuring the hoop strain on large cylindrical shells. Conventional approaches to this measurement require that multiple sensors be placed around a pressure vessel to get an accurate determination of the hoop strain and structural integrity of the vessel. These approaches require significant wiring, can be difficult to install, and their spatial resolution is a function of the number of gages leading to high cost. Luna"s innovative fiber optic system will enable a zeroth order hoop strain measurement that is capable of determining the AC and DC loads on large diameter structures for the purpose of modal analysis and structural health monitoring. During the Phase I development Luna will design, model, and demonstrate the ability to measure the hoop strain on a shell under differing vibrational loads. During Phase II the system will be optimized to determine the health of cylindrical vessels by refining algorithms, sensor design, and implementing improvements to the interrogation system. A Phase III development will transition the system into industry resulting in a product for use by the DoD and commercial partners.