<title>NDE characterization of advanced composite materials with high-temperature optical fiber sensors</title>

Abstract

Optical fiber sensor have numerous advantages over conventional sensing technologies. One exciting capability of optical fiber sensor is their ability to operate in high temperature environments. While most conventional strain, pressure, etc. sensors do not operate reliably over 300 degrees C, fused silica based optical fiber sensor can survive up to 900 degrees C. High temperature materials such as sapphire and silicon carbide can be used to construct sensors that can survive up to 2000 degrees C. A suite of high temperature strain, pressure, and temperature sensor are being developed using the Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer technology for NDE characterization of advanced composite materials. These sensors have been demonstrated in several applications. High temperature strain and temperature sensors were used to conduct fatigue testing of composite compounds at 600 degrees C. High temperature pressure senors are being developed as microphones for high temperature acoustic testing. The result from these specific high temperature applications are presented along with future applications and directions for these sensors.