Abstract
We report on the results obtained from testing prototype optical time domain fiber strain sensors on a full scale F-15 test plane at Wright Patterson AFB, OH. The tests included a segmented Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) based fiber sensor, as well as a reentrant loop Optical Time Domain strain sensor. The sensors were attached to the underside of one of the plane's wings near the main body of the aircraft. Dynamic loads simulating in-flight conditions were applied through hydraulic actuators mounted on the wing's top and bottom surfaces. Strain levels ranged from 0 to 2500 micron/m during the cyclic load tests. Data was acquired from the high resolution optical time domain system using customized software and a GPIB interface between the system's processor and a personal computer. A new referencing technique allowed quasi-continuous measurements and automatic, periodic reference updating. The strain levels measured with the fiber sensors were compared with those read by conventional strain gages, and good correlation was observed. To our knowledge, these are the first dynamic OTDR picosecond resolution strain measurements ever performed.
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