Damage Evaluation and Analysis of Composite Pressure Vessels Using Fiber Bragg Gratings to Determine Structural Health

With the augmented use of high performance composite materials in critical structures, it has become increasingly important for ‘smart ’ systems to monitor these materials and provide rapid evaluation. Using fiber Bragg gratings embedded into the weave structure of carbon fiber epoxy composites allow the capability to monitor these composites during manufacture, cure, general aging, and damage. Fiber optic sensors allow greater insight into damage progression and can be used to verify analytical models. This paper emphasizes the results of recent work in which multiple arrays of Bragg gratings were wound into composite vessels and monitored while the part was damaged. Based on the response of these sensors, algorithms were developed to identify the location of damage impacts. Results were verified against eddy current and ultrasonic NDE methods