Optical Strain Monitoring in Composite Materials

Abstract

Composite materials are substances made up of at least two components. Typically, one phase is fibrous and the second phase is a resin. The fibers provide the strength while the resin supports and protects the fibers. Optical fibers embedded within a composite structure during its layup offer a means of monitoring the structure. This project studied two different types of monitoring. Both utilized the Mach-Zehnder interferometer configuration. The first provided a signal that was used to obtain a detailed calibration for the optical strain gauge as the composite beam was deflected in three point bending. The second provided a signal in the audio spectrum that was used to monitor a composite specimen under various driving forces. This signal was evaluated subjectively and also quantitatively through the use of a computer.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 13, 1991
Accession Number
ADA245474

Entities

People

  • Daniel B. Robinson

Organizations

  • United States Naval Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aircrafts
  • Communication Systems
  • Composite Materials
  • Composite Structures
  • Epoxy Composites
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Fiber Optics
  • Frequency
  • Geometry
  • Interferometers
  • Mach Zehnder Interferometers
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Measurement
  • Mechanical Structure
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Strain Gages
  • United States Naval Academy

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Optical Physics and Photonics.
  • Structural Health Monitoring of Composite Structures.