A Hybrid Piezoelectric/Fiber Optic System for Structural Health Monitoring

Acellent Technologies is developing a Hybrid piezoelectric/fiber optic (HyPFO) structural diagnostic system that can be used to perform quick non-destructive evaluation and long-term health monitoring of aerospace vehicles and structures. The development is based on Acellent's state-of-the-art SMART Layer technology that utilizes a built-in network of piezoelectric sensors and actuators embedded on a thin dielectric carrier film, that can be easily mounted on the surface of existing structures or embedded inside composite structures during manufacturing itself. Due to the popularity of fiber-optic sensors, it is proposed to incorporate fiber-optic sensors into the current SMART Layer product to create a Hybrid piezoelectric/fiber-optic monitoring layer. The specific objectives of the phase I effort were to (1) Develop and fabricate a hybrid piezoelectric/fiber optic layer, (2) Integrate the fabricated prototype onto a demonstration structure and (3) Demonstrate functionality of the structurally integrated HyPFO monitoring layer. Anticipated phase II challenges include completing the design and development of the Hybrid piezoelectric/fiber-optic sensor layer, development of instrumentation for the hybrid layer in collaboration with fiber-optic companies, integration of the fiber-optic instrument and Acellent's current diagnostic instrument, development of diagnostic and application software for the HyPFO and testing and validation of the developed system with industrial partners.