Abstract
This goal of our research was to show that E-glass fiber bundles used for reinforcing composites can be enabled to transmit light in a common resin without any special preparation (without removing the sizing). The power of the transmitted light was measured and the attenuation coefficient, which characterizes the fiber bundle, was determined. Although the attenuation coefficient depends on temperature and the wavelength of the light, it is independent of the power of incident light, the quality of coupling, and the length of the specimen. The refractive index of commercially available transparent resins was measured and it was proved that a resin with a refractive index lower than that of the fiber can be used to make a composite whose fibers are capable of transmitting light. The effects of temperature, compression of the fibers, and the shape of fiber ends on the power of transmitted light were examined. The measurement of emitted light can provide information about the health of the fibers. This can be the basis of a simple health monitoring system in the case of general-purpose composite structures.
Highlights
Composites are becoming more and more popular [1,2], and this necessitates the development of new testing methods, preferably non-destructive in situ methods
The sensors can be classified according to the principle of operation: electrostatic sensors, piezoresistive sensors, piezoelectric sensors [3], optical sensors, etc
A property of the light travelling in the optical fiber of the optical sensor changes as a result of external influences, such as a load on the fiber, deformation, or temperature
Summary
Composites are becoming more and more popular [1,2], and this necessitates the development of new testing methods, preferably non-destructive in situ methods. Most non-destructive evaluation methods require bulky, non-movable equipment, which cannot test the composite during regular operation. There are, methods which involve sensors built into the composite that evaluate the signals they produce to detect deformation or structural damage. These methods can be used to test the structure during normal operation and provide a way to continuously monitor the health of the structure, without the need to remove the part for testing. The optical sensors used in composites can be classified based on several aspects [5,6]. They have several advantages: they are not disturbed by electromagnetic waves (e.g., radio waves, background radiation), they do not need electromagnetic shielding, and optical fibers does
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