Fiber Optics in Filament Wound Structures

Production Products will develop novel, low cost processing technology to incorporate fiber optic sensors in filament wound composite rocket motor cases, pressure vessels, and other missile components. The fiber optic sensors will be used for cure monitoring, measuring temperature, displacement, strain, and structural health monitoring. In Phase I we will develop low cost techniques to place the fiber optic sensors in the filament wound composite structures, fabricate representative Army missile components such as the Patriot Advanced Capability -3 (PAC-3) rocket motor case, mid-body section, or launch canister; characterize the strength of the filament wound composite material containing the fiber optic sensors; perform structural tests on missile components to demonstrate the ability of the fiber optic sensors to accurately measure strain, displacement, and temperature; and track costs to show the impact onoverall system cost of incorporating smart structures in missile components. Our aerospace mentor Loral Vought Systems will provide us with Army missile applications and requirements such as the PAC-3. Production Products will apply the sensor and filament winding technology to Army rocket motor case or pressure vessel applications and commercialize the technology in Phase II. The anticipated benefits of this program include: lowering the cost of fiber optic sensor technology by implementation into large volume Army missile applications, improved process control from cure monitoring sensors and accurate structural health monitoring during service. The technology has immediate military and commercial sales potential as well as broad applicability to a wide range of additional aerospace/commercial applications, including application to composite civil structures.