Fibre Optic Shape Sensing and Load Monitoring of Adaptive Aerospace Structures

The aerospace industry is an ever-evolving field that has seen many technological advances over the past decades. The desire for aircraft to be not only efficient and reliable but also cheaper and safer has brought about many proposals across the industry. One of these advances is towards morphing aircraft wings to make wings lighter, more...

Using fiber bragg gratings for shape monitoring and adjustment of a thermal protection system aboard a targeted re-entry cubesat

Currently, the amount of space debris is increasing rapidly due to the tremendous amount of satellite launches. Having an autonomous re-entry system aboard satellites at their end-of life, creates possibilities in the frame of lowering space debris, as well as for sample return from space. This paper aims at describing two possible deployment...

Assessment of the Measurement Performance of the Multimodal Fibre Optic Shape Sensing Configuration for a Morphing Wing Section

In this paper, with the final aim of shape sensing for a morphing aircraft wing section, a developed multimodal shape sensing system is analysed. We utilise the method of interrogating a morphing wing section based on the principles of both hybrid interferometry and Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) spectral sensing described in our previous work....

Measuring Ground Reaction forces in Running Specific Prostheses: A Fibre Optical Sensor approach

Running Specific Prosthesis (RSP) allow amputee sprinters to compare to the best able-bodied sprinters in the world. In RSP research, the current state of the art mainly focusses on highly detailed analysis of discrete moments in the sprint, but more data of the entire sprint process in terms of RSP characteristics and sprinting technique are...

A simultaneous dual-parameter optical fibre single sensor embedded in a glass fibre/epoxy composite

A simultaneous two-parameter single sensor based on weakly tilted Fibre Bragg Grating (TFBG), embedded in a 1 mm glass fibre/epoxy composite plate, is demonstrated to measure independently the temperature and strain variations induced in the material by the exposure to heating lamps. The spectrum of weakly TFBGs is composed of several peaks...

Design of novel sensing technique for micro-strain measurements using Fiber-Bragg Gratings

Fiber Bragg Gratings and its application in various fields is an active area of research. Its high sensitivity, low cost and maintenance is gaining high attention in the various upcoming fields. As the Fiber Bragg Gratings can be used in various capacities, its operation as sensor is explored in this research. The primary aim of this research is...

A method for determining the position of FBG sensors accurately

Fibre Bragg grating sensors have gained a lot of attention in damage detection and strain measurement applications in the past few decades. These applications include matrix crack detection and delamination tip monitoring in composite structures, crack detection in concrete and civil engineering structures and etc. The damage localisation...

Simultaneous position and displacement sensing using two fibre Bragg grating sensors

Over the years, many shape sensing methods have been developed with technologies including optical fibre, PZT and fringe projection. Among them, optical fibres have gained a lot of attention due to their unobtrusive nature when either surface mounted or embedded in the structure. Optical fibre Bragg gratings (FBG) are currently employed for...

Analysis of FBG reflection spectra under anti-symmetrical strain distributions using the approximated transfer matrix model

In this paper, we used the efficient formulation of the approximated transfer matrix model (ATMM) for the analysis of fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors' response under anti-symmetrical strain fields. Exploiting the flexible representation of the transfer matrices in this new model, we will analytically prove that any sort of anti-symmetrical...

Modelling non-uniform strain distributions in aerospace composites using fibre Bragg gratings

In this paper the behaviour of fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors under non-uniform strain distributions was analysed. Using the fundamental matrix approach, the length of the FBG sensor was discretised, with each segment undergoing different strain values. FBG sensors that are embedded inside composites, also undergo such non-uniform strain...

Classification of composite damage from FBG load monitoring signals

This paper describes a new method for the classification and identification of two major types of defects in composites, namely delamination and matrix cracks, by classification of the spectral features of fibre Bragg grating (FBG) signals. In aeronautical applications of composites, after a damage is detected, it is very useful to know the...

Smart sensors in asphalt: monitoring key process parameters during and post construction

The Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBG) technology based on integrated photonics, offers specific benefits including thermal mapping, damage detection, shape- and distributed sensing. This makes it useful for determining pavement behaviour during extreme weather conditions e.g. freeze-thaw cycles when harsh winter conditions could damage the asphalt...

In situ strain & cure monitoring in liquid composite moulding by fibre Bragg grating sensors

Forces in needle interventions: Measuring tip forces

Accurate positioning of the needle tip during insertion is essential to ensure a maximum effect of the treatment. Target error is a problem and a lot research fields aim to improve needle insertions. The possibility to measure cutting force and stiffness force separately from friction forces supports the development of new types of needles,...

Multi-Functional Measurement Using a Single FBG Sensor

This paper describes the measurement of average strain, strain distribution and vibration of a cantilever beam made of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics (CFRP), using a single Fibre Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor mounted on the beam surface. Average strain is determined from the displacement of the peak wavelength of reflected spectrum from the FBG...