Impact detection, location, and characterization using spatially weighted distributed fiber optic sensors

William B. Spillman Jr.; Dryver R. Huston

doi:10.1117/12.259793

27 November 1996 Impact detection, location, and characterization using spatially weighted distributed fiber optic sensors

William B. Spillman Jr., Dryver R. Huston

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2838, Distributed and Multiplexed Fiber Optic Sensors VI; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.259793
Event: SPIE's 1996 International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1996, Denver, CO, United States

Abstract

The ability to detect, localize and characterize impacts in real time is of critical importance for the safe operation of aircraft, spacecraft and other vehicles, particularly in light of the increasing use of high performance composite materials with unconventional and often catastrophic failure modes. Although a number of systems based on fiber optic sensors have been proposed or demonstrated, they have generally proved not to be useful due to difficulty of implementation, limited accuracy or high cost. In this paper, we present the results of an investigation using two spatially weighted distributed fiber optic sensors to detect, localize and characterize impacts along an extended linear region. By having the sensors co-located with one having sensitivity to impacts ranging from low to high along its length while the other sensor has sensitivity ranging from high to low along the same path, impacts can be localized and their magnitudes determined using a very simple algorithm. A theoretical description of the techniques is given and compared with experimental results.

Citation Download Citation

William B. Spillman Jr. and Dryver R. Huston "Impact detection, location, and characterization using spatially weighted distributed fiber optic sensors", Proc. SPIE 2838, Distributed and Multiplexed Fiber Optic Sensors VI, (27 November 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.259793

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