An experimental study is conducted to evaluate the performance of surface-mounted fiber optic strain sensors for delamination damage detection in eight-layer symmetric cross-ply Graphite/Epoxy composite plates. Teflon film and waxed paper inserts were embedded to model delamination experimentally. Extrinsic Fabry-Perot fiber optic sensors were used to detect such pre-existing delaminations. A fringe-order identification computer program for interferometric optical fiber strain sensors is used for automated strain detection. The responses of surface mounted Fabry-Perot optical fiber sensors due to real-time low velocity impact of rigid spheres with the delaminated and healthy composites were analyzed with respect to the first impact strain peak. The data was validated by measurements of out-of-plane acceleration using conventional piezo accelerometers.
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