Low velocity impact detection and damage assessment in composite materials using fibre Bragg grating sensors

Abstract

Low velocity impact (LVQ) is considered potentially dangerous for a composite structure mainly because the damage, in the form of delaminations and matrix cracking, is being created near the back face or within the laminate and might be left undetected. Most of the conventional damage assessment techniques require the composite structure or component to be taken out of service. The development of an in-situ damage monitoring system using embedded fibre optic sensors offers significant benefits. However, few of the efforts to develop an optical fibre sensor system for impact applications can be considered successful [1] due to the significant technical challenges facing the use of fibre optic sensors.

This paper presents a study carried out in the University of Southampton into the detection and assessment of LVI on carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) using in-fibre Bragg grating sensors and a novel interrogation system developed at the Optoelectronics Research Centre and the Department of Engineering Materials. Preliminary experimental results from impact tests in composites validated and confirmed the high sensitivity and accuracy of the developed system. Furthermore, the relationship between sensor readings and actual impact damage is presented.

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Identifiers

ORCID for M. Mowlem: orcid.org/0000-0001-7613-6121

ORCID for G. Brambilla: orcid.org/0000-0002-5730-0499

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