DESIGN OF AN EMBEDDED SENSOR NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING PROCESS MONITORING, QUALITY CONTROL MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF ADVANCED COMPOSITE STRUCTURES

摘要

This paper proposes the use of an embedded network of fiber optic sensors for process and Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of Resin Transfer Molded (RTM) composite structures. A single sensor network is used at each stage of life of a RTM composite panel: flow monitoring, cure monitoring and health monitoring. A laboratory scale RTM apparatus was designed and built with the capability of visually monitoring the resin filling process. A technique for embedding fiber optic sensors into the mold has also been developed. Both Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBG) and Etched Fiber Sensors (EFS) have been embedded in composite panels using the apparatus. Etched Fiber Sensors have the capability of detecting the presence of resin. The sensors have proven to be capable of detecting the presence of resin at various locations as it is injected into the mold and have the capability of being multiplexed with FBGs thus reducing the number of ingress/egress locations required per sensor.