Experimental studies of sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings embedded in the internal structure of composite plates

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to study the structural characteristics of carbon fiber samples printed on a 3D printer, including embedded sensors, during 3D printing, through numerical and experimental studies. There is a widespread tendency to replace metals with modern composite materials. Various methods can be used to measure the destruction of the composite structure. Fiber Bragg array sensors are known as intelligent localized and global structural condition prediction devices for all kinds of structural applications, especially those using composite materials. In this work, we created control plates by impregnating a selected number of layers of carbon fabric with epoxy resin. Fiber-optic Bragg sensors were additionally located between the layers of carbon fabric. In the course of experimental studies, a fiber Bragg grating sensor was embedded in the middle of the sample, and a second sensor was attached to the finished surface of the sample. We conducted environmental tests to examine the durability of the additively manufactured standard’s components and the impact of integrated sensors on the composite sample. We applied the concept of equations, known as conjugate modes, and used the transition matrix method to solve them numerically. The scientific novelty of the work is the development of a new method and technology for measuring spatial deformation in composite materials using fiber-optic Bragg gratings.