Abstract
This work reports on the use of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors integrated with innovative composite items of aircraft landing gear for strain/stress monitoring. Recently, the introduction of innovative structures in aeronautical applications is appealing with two main goals: (i) to decrease the weight and cost of current items; and (ii) to increase the mechanical resistance, if possible. However, the introduction of novel structures in the aeronautical field demands experimentation and certification regarding their mechanical resistance. In this work, we successfully investigate the possibility to use Fiber Bragg Grating sensors for the structural health monitoring of innovative composite items for the landing gear. Several FBG strain sensors have been integrated in different locations of the composite item including region with high bending radius. To optimize the localization of the FBG sensors, load condition was studied by Finite Element Method (FEM) numerical analysis. Several experimental tests have been done in range 0–70 kN by means of a hydraulic press. Obtained results are in very good agreement with the numerical ones and demonstrate the great potentialities of FBG sensor technology to be employed for remote and real-time load measurements on aircraft landing gears and to act as early warning systems.
Highlights
The aerospace sector is constantly searching for new solutions to optimize the component lifetime and the maintenance of aircraft
Obtained results are in very good agreement with the numerical ones and demonstrate the great potentialities of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors technology to be employed for remote and real-time load measurements on aircraft landing gears
InIn this work, wewe presented a detailed study devoted to to assessing thethe capability of of based this work, presented a detailed study devoted assessing capability based optical fiber sensing technology to act as in-situ, remote and real-time monitoring platforms of thethe optical fiber sensing technology to act as in-situ, remote and real-time monitoring platforms of load applied to a single component of aircraft landing gear
Summary
The aerospace sector is constantly searching for new solutions to optimize the component lifetime and the maintenance of aircraft. Research efforts on smart-martials, intelligent systems and/or innovative monitoring technologies are widely welcome. In this context, the aircraft manufacturers started to use composite materials in aircraft components since the early 1980s [1]. Composite materials are a key solution in aircraft structures due to the lightness of composites and the corrosion problem in aluminum or metallic items. The introduction of novel materials requires appropriate systems for monitoring of their health state before enabling a wide use [2]. The landing gear (LG) system is an important component in aircraft [3]. There are several types of LGs and arrangements of LGs in aircraft: the most common LG arrangement is the tricycle-type one
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