Intracore fiber Bragg gratings for strain measurement in embedded composite structures

Abstract

An intracore Bragg grating written on a photosensitive fiber core is used for strain measurement in composite specimens under load. The strain information is directly related to the absolute change in the Bragg-reflected wavelength. Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors (fibers with intracore gratings) are thus sensitive to strain that is caused by changes in temperature as well as to load-induced changes. Thus these sensors can be made to be independent of source intensity variations and losses. FBG sensors used for load-induced strain sensing in composite structures and the effects of temperature on them are discussed. A detailed account of the use of such embedded structures as self-monitoring nondestructive testing devices is given.