Optical fibres for condition monitoring of fibre composite products
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Swerea IVF AB - Swerea IVF Linköping |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 300 000 |
| Project duration | October 2014 - February 2015 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
The aim of this project was to investigate the possibility to use optical fibers with multiplexed Bragg gratings as strain gauges in industrial carbon fiber (CFRP) fixtures. To test this, optical fibers were placed between two CFRP laminates in a CFRP beam (8x0.5x0.5m). The beam was then exposed to point loads. This project has investigated this possibility both through FEM calculations of the beam and performed experiments. These have shown that this technology has a high potential in this field and meets the tolerance demands from the end user.
Expected long term effects
The results have shown that this technology is suitable for this application and that the technology corresponds to the end users demands in measurement accuracy. As a consequence, the results have given rise to continued work within the field. As an example, this project has enabled two new project applications in the field ´fiber composites optical fibers as monitoring devices´ and has been subject to great interest from end users in several branches.
Approach and implementation
The project started with a meeting where the time schedule and project activities were decided. After that, necessary investigations started to decide the type of optical fibers to be used; the positions of these as well as through calculations establish the load cases and measurement accuracy demands. This work led to a workshop where a beam having embedded optical fibers was investigated for different load cases. This beam is now a part of a ´real´ fixture. The setup and implementation of this project has given rise to an increased interest and new research projects within the field.