Fiber optic thermal detection of composite delaminations

Meng-Chou Wu; William P. Winfree

doi:10.1117/12.883037

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10 May 2011 Fiber optic thermal detection of composite delaminations

Meng-Chou Wu, William P. Winfree

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Proceedings Volume 8013, Thermosense: Thermal Infrared Applications XXXIII; 801314 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.883037
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2011, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

A recently developed technique is presented for thermographic detection of delaminations in composites by performing temperature measurements with fiber optic Bragg gratings. A single optical fiber with multiple Bragg gratings employed as surface temperature sensors was bonded to the surface of a composite with subsurface defects. The investigated structure was a 10-ply composite specimen with prefabricated delaminations of various sizes and depths. Both during and following the application of a thermal heat flux to the surface, the individual Bragg grating sensors measured the temporal and spatial temperature variations. The data obtained from grating sensors were analyzed with thermal modeling techniques of conventional thermography to reveal particular characteristics of the interested areas. Results were compared and found to be consistent with the calculations using numerical simulation techniques. Also discussed are methods including various heating sources and patterns, and their limitations for performing in-situ structural health monitoring.

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Meng-Chou Wu and William P. Winfree "Fiber optic thermal detection of composite delaminations", Proc. SPIE 8013, Thermosense: Thermal Infrared Applications XXXIII, 801314 (10 May 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.883037

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