Integration of Fiber Bragg Systems as Embedded Structural Health Monitoring for Composite Aircraft

Embedded sensors that are fabricated into the structure of composite aircraft offer the ability to better characterize the ultimate performance of composites, as these materials are a product of the manufacturing process, can be susceptible to aging issues, and damage mechanisms that are difficult to identify.  In this work, Texas Research Institute (TRI) Austin, Inc. and Sensuron will team to demonstrate the use of embedded fiber Bragg sensors in laboratory scale specimens to record and log: strain, displacement, temperature, force, and damage (delamination and impact/impact damage detection).  In addition to this, TRI and Sensuron will also demonstrate how the system can achieve the goals set out by the USN for distributed measurements, modular data logging interface, and power/service life.