Structural Health Monitoring with Fiber Bragg Grating and Piezo Arrays

For aerospace vehicle health monitoring applications, the integrated, distributed optical sensor-actuator systems developed by the IFOS team will significantly increase the sensing capability as well as extend the applicability of fiber-optic sensors systems at low cost. Further applications include instrumentation for jet engines and flight control systems, oil exploration, marine structures, power plants, and critical infrastructures for homeland security. The IFOS systems will greatly contribute to improved aviation security technologies. IFOS' high-speed, high-resolution and multiplexed sensor systems coupled with advanced SHM techniques are uniquely suited to monitoring the health and real time condition of Air Transportation Systems (ATS). The proposed technology can be readily developed into on-board and real-time monitoring systems, allowing frequent and timely damage detection, security risk assessment and incident precursor identification. Thus, timely preparedness, preventive maintenance or repair activities can be more focused and efficient, enhancing the safety, security and service life of the ATS.

This project has direct NASA applications in the following areas: 1)Real-time SHM for UAVs such as Ikhana, Golfstream and Global Hawk 2)Advanced Technology Composites (ATC) project for Ares V launch vehicle and Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) 3)NASA support of Air Transportation Security programs 4)Integrated Vehicle Health Monitoring (IVHM) 5)Automated Nondestructive Evaluation for faulty structural components 6)Flight control System Real-time autonomous sensor validity monitors 7)Monitoring and control of composite structures manufacturing and assembly process 8)Self-monitoring structures with alarm and abort capabilities 9)Pyrotechnic test and data acquisition for shock response spectrum analysis. More »