Crack growth monitoring in composite materials using embedded optical Fiber Bragg Grating sensor

摘要

In this paper a novel method to assess a crack growing/damage event in fiber reinforced plastic, or adhesive using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors embedded in a host material is shown. Different features of the crack mechanism that induce a change in the FBG response were identified. Double Cantilever Beams specimens made with glass fibre glued with structural adhesive, were instrumented with an array of FBG sensors embedded in the material and tested using an experimental fracture procedure. A digital image correlation technique was used to determine the presence of the specific phenomena caused by the crack, and to correlate with the FBG sensor. An algorithm was developed that analyses the reflected peak at each measurement time, and calculates the contribution of each fracture phenomenon to the change in the FBG response. This Material-Sensor model was implemented in a Finite Element Method (FEM) Model of the DCB specimen, to simulate the response of the FBG sensor during the process of crack growth, proving that this Material-Sensor model can be used as an analysis tool for future application of this measurement technology in more complex structures.