4 - Using optical fibers for ultrasonic damage detection in aerospace structures

Abstract

Optical fiber sensors (OFSs) are among the promising ultrasonic sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) since the development of high-speed interrogation systems for OFSs, especially fiber Bragg gratings. This chapter introduces the traditional optical fiber ultrasonic sensors (OFUSs) and the latest interrogation systems developed for ultrasonic measurement by OFUSs with high sensitivity and broadband characteristics. Examples of applications of the systems in damage detection for composite laminates or complex-shaped composite structures are shown, and use the acousto-ultrasonic and acoustic emission methods for SHM of aerospace composite structures.