Filtern
Erscheinungsjahr
- 2011 (4) (entfernen)
Dokumenttyp
Sprache
- Englisch (4)
Referierte Publikation
- nein (4) (entfernen)
Schlagworte
- Strain sensor (2)
- Validation (2)
- Adhesive (1)
- Application (1)
- Creep (1)
- Durability (1)
- Fatigue behaviour (1)
- Fiber optic sensors (1)
- Fiber optics (1)
- Fibre Bragg grating (1)
- Guideline (1)
- Patch (1)
- Reliability (1)
- Rosette (1)
- Standards (1)
- Strain gauge factor (1)
- Structural health monitoring (1)
- Surface application (1)
- Testing (1)
A fibre Bragg grating (FBG) strain patch specially adapted for long-term and high-strain applications was developed and characterised. Additionally, in the case of unknown main stress axis, two fibre optic strain rosettes were developed. The design concept for the patch and the rosettes is based on a glass fibre reinforced plastic (gfrp) carrier material. The patches were characterised due to their strain gauge factor and fatigue behaviour. As a result, FBG strain patches with linear strain behaviour and excellent fatigue resistance were developed and can be used as part of a monitoring system for aerospace structures or wind turbine power plants. The rosettes were designed to be small in geometrical size and their strain transfer behaviour was characterised.
Fiber optic strain sensors are increasingly used and sensor Systems are provided with specifications. Even if the performance is well specified, the strain characteristics of the sensor, strain transfer factor, mechanical stability under thermal influences, the performance of applied strain sensors can seriously differ from virgin sensor’s the performance. Therefore the contribution considers validation issues to come to reliable strain measurements and how to validate strain measurements of applied sensors. A new validation facility will be presented.
Strain sensors embedded in or attached to structural components have to measure the real deformation of the structure over the whole period of use. The user must know how reliably installed sensors provide strain measurement results. For this purpose, test facilities or coupon tests are used. In order to characterize the strain transfer quality from the host structure into surface-applied strain sensors, a unique testing facility has been developed. This facility can be used both for fiber optic and resistance strain sensors. Originally developed for fiber Bragg grating based sensors, the KALFOS facility (=calibration of fiber optic sensors) uses Digital Image Correlation (DIC) and Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometer (ESPI) as unbiased referencing methods. It is possible to determine experimentally the strain transfer mechanism under combined thermal and mechanical loading conditions. This experimental characterization method will reveal weaknesses in commonly used strain sensors, and the investigation of the material systems used for fiber optic and other strain sensors (particularly the coating/substrate - adhesive combination). The KALFOS facility allows matching of specific measurement requirements with environmental conditions.
Fiber optic sensors are increasingly used because of their outstanding performance or if special requirements avoid the application of conventional electrical sensors. The scientific background for optical fiber sensors is well developed; however, the characteristic of sensors applied in rather harsh environment are almost always different from characteristics determined in laboratory or before its installation. In order to achieve long-term stable function and reliable measurement data after application and under harsh environmental conditions, guidelines for characterization and specification of sensor components are needed as well as methodologies for testing the sensor performance must be developed. Performance tests carried out revealed that there are still some restrictions with respect to long-term reliable use: first, some sensor products available on the market are not very often appropriately characterized, described and validated; second, application procedures are not always defined due to a lack of understanding the micromechanical issues in the interface zone between sensor and measuring object. Application procedures and profound knowledge of materials behaviour are necessary to get results from the sensor that can be reliably used. The paper describes first guidelines to prove the quality of fiber optic strain sensors, a testing facility developed for unbiased tests and certification of surface-applied sensors as well as result from comparison of commercially available strain sensors.