A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain patch specially adapted for long-term and high-strain applications has been developed and characterized. The design concept for the patch is based on a glass-fiber reinforced plastic (gfrp) carrier material. The developed concept for the FBG integration into the carrier material was derived from reliable integration procedure of FBG sensors into composite structures. The patches' temperature sensitivity, strain gauge factor, fiber–matrix interface adhesion and fatigue behavior were characterized. As a result, FBG strain patches with linear temperature and strain behavior, as well as excellent fatigue resistance, were developed and can be used as part of a monitoring system for advanced composite materials in aerospace structures or wind turbine power plants.
This work presents a further development of the methods of simultaneous determination of temperature and axial strain using a single fibre Bragg grating (FBG). The reflected spectrum of composite-embedded FBG sensors has been analyzed in order to separate temperature and load effects. We found out that during the curing process of the laminates, a superstructure has been introduced on the FBG. Analyzing this effect, a temperature and strain separation was implemented by simply calculating and comparing the integrated intensity of the spectral response signal. A mathematical four-parametric model has been developed to calculate the reflected spectrum of a superstructured fibre Bragg grating. The mathematically achieved data has been evaluated with experimentally determined data from fibre Bragg gratings embedded in glass-fibre reinforced composite materials.
Fibre optic strain sensors used in practical applications have to provide reliable measurements. Therefore, the applied sensor and the sensor systems must be validated experimentally. This can be achieved with facilities which use physically independent measurement systems in order to avoid the influences caused by the application of a reference sensor. This paper describes the testing methods of the specially developed validation facility KALFOS for the qualification and evaluation of surface-applied strain sensors. For reliable sensor results, the performance of fibre optic strain patches with and without FBG under combined thermal and mechanical loading was investigated. Additionally, the strain gauge factor of the fibre optic strain patches with FBG was determined experimentally and compared to the specified strain gauge factor. These results will be the basis for the development of guidelines and standards concerning the application of the sensors.
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.