Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors in Polymer Structures Fabricated by Layered Manufacturing

Abstract

Layered manufacturing allows full access to any point of interest during the production of a 3-D part, making feasible the embedding of sensors and components inside the functional part. Shape deposition manufacturing was used to integrate fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors during the production of polymer components. Sensors can be placed close to points of interest prior to enclosure. For strain measurements, the sensors embedded in polyurethane yielded high sensitivity, accuracy, and linearity. The sensitivity of the embedded FBGs was in good agreement with that of bare FBGs. The embedded sensors were used to measure the strain field in layered materials. Pressure sensors based on embedded strain gauges and FBGs were also developed and tested, showing good accuracy and linearity.