RECENT DEVELOPMENT OF STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING TECHNOLOGIES FOR AIRCRAFT COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

摘要

Advanced composites including carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) are extensively being used in recent aircraft structures due to a strong demand for high efficiency and reasonable affordability. However, inspection and maintenance of CFRP structures are of concern to the safety of new aircraft. The damage in operation can be more complicated in CFRP structures than in conventional metallic ones. Efficient inspection and maintenance procedure of aircraft CFRP structures has been highly demanded using structural health monitoring (SHM) technologies under development.In Japan, we have been developing optical fiber based SHM technologies in recent industry-university collaboration programs. After some important fundamental developments, such as small-diameter optical fiber sensors for embedment in CFRP structures without introducing any deterioration, we are now applying to sub-component structure prototypes. This presentation provides some recent development of optical fiber based SHM technologies for near-future aircraft composite structures.