Mechanical properties of composite materials containing embedded fiber-optic sensors

摘要

A programme of mechanical testing has been carried out to determine the effect of a variety of embedded optical fibres on the properties of carbon/epoxide composite systems. The properties of interest were longitudinal and transverse tension, longitudinal compression, inter- laminar and in-plane shear. The variables investigated included the diameter of the silica cladding and the thickness and type of jacketing material. It was found that both the polyimide and acrylate coated fibres with diameters of approximately 100 $mu@m had little adverse effect on the mechanical properties of any of the composites, except in longitudinal compression where up to 26% reduction in strength was seen in some systems.