Integral Circuit Panel/Frame/Heat Sink

Foster-Miller proposes to develop a novel translaminar embedded fiber optic sensor system to measure residual stresses in graphite/epoxy composites. The proposed system has been demonstrated by Foster-Miller to successfully monitor the structural integrity of a composite laminate subjected to edge delamination stresses. The system uses a short gauge length fiber optic Bragg grating sensor and a novel fabrication technique which permits through thickness insertion of the sensor without damage to the sensor or the comnposite properties. The Phase I program will demonstrate that the embedded sensor is capable of measuring residual stresses due to thermal effects and post cure stresses from drilling and machining. These results will be correlated to analytical predictions.