Abstract: The applicability of optical fiber modal domain sensors to impact monitoring in aircraft components is studied. This work pulls together a number of scattered ideas from previous research programs onto one working platform, and includes the incorporation of lead-in and lead-out fibers, integrated spatial filtering, a novel fiber termination technique, and an inertial microbender to enhance mode coupling effects. Impacts to both graphite/epoxy composite and metallic specimens were carried out using a unique test apparatus constructed to accommodate a wide variety of measurement conditions. Test results suggest that modal domain sensors can offer quantitative information about the energy associated with a particular impact, as well as its location. Various sensor configurations and signal processing options are discussed, and recommendations for optimized sensing given.!15
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