Measurement of strains by optical fiber Bragg grating sensors embedded into polymer composite material

Summary This paper presents the experimental results of strain measurements made by the fiber Bragg grating sensors embedded into polymer composite materials (PCMs). A series of performed experiments are described to demonstrate the capability of fiber optic sensors to measure strains in the case of their pronounced gradient distribution within the material, under compression and tension, at cyclic variation of strains with time and at different temperatures. A measuring technique is presented, and the results of strain measurements during the process of preparation of PCM including measurements of residual process-induced strains are discussed.The results of strain measurements made by fiber optic strain sensors (FOSS) are compared with the results of numerical modeling based on the finite element method and independent measurement data obtained with the use of a digital optical system Vic-3D and other experimental devices. The comparison made shows good agreement between the results obtained by the experimental methods and numerical simulation.The results of numerical computations demonstrate that the embedment of optical fibers in a PCM introduces perturbations in the strain distribution pattern in the vicinity of optical fibers but practically does not cause changes in the value of the strain tensor component measured by the FOSS. The conclusions about applicability range of FOSS embedded into PCM were made based upon the numerical simulation. The interrelation model between Bragg wavelength peak shift and the strain of the optical fiber in the fiber Bragg grating area for the sensor that is not affected by the environment is proposed.