Multifunctional Fiber Bragg Grating sensing system for load monitoring of composite wings

Intelligent Fiber Optic Systems Corporation (IFOS) is developing a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) integrated Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) sensor system capable of load monitoring as well as detecting, locating and quantifying cracks and de-laminations in composite structures such as smart composite wings with embedded FBG sensors. This paper describes an approach that enables analysis of complex structures not only non-destructively, but also without physically contacting or implanting electrical elements into test samples. Example results are given for composite coupon load monitoring with multiplexed FBG strain sensors. Combined with the multi-functional FBGs, advanced signal processing, damage identification, location and quantification algorithms will be applied. Potentially, the solution could evolve into an autonomous onboard monitoring system to inspect and perform Non-Destructive Evaluation and real-time SHM.