Fiber Optic Sensors For Composite Monitoring
William B. Spillman Jr. · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 1989
The success of the concept of smart skins depends in large part upon the use of new composite materials. Widespread incorporation of composites into new aerospace vehicles has been limited due to the incomplete predictability of the failure modes and lifetimes of structures made up of these materials. Fiber optic technology offers a possible method whereby a greater understanding and use of these types of materials can be obtained through the use of embedded fiber optic sensors. The types of sensors which could be used will be discussed with a focus upon the benefits that they would provide for smart skins applications.