Acoustic emission detection in carbon composite materials using Fiber Bragg Grating optical sensors

In light of ongoing efforts to reduce weight but maintain durability, designers have examined the use of carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials for a number of aerospace and civil structures. Along with this research has been the study of determining reliable sensing and monitoring capabilities to avoid catastrophic failure. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors are known to carry several advantages in this area, one of which is their proven ability to detect acoustic emission (AE) Lamb waves in composite structures. AE is produced in these materials by failure mechanisms such as resin cracking, fiber debonding, fiber pullout and fiber breakage. In this study FBG sensors were attached to CFRP laminates to detect acoustic emission events. Also Felicity Ratio (FR) measurements were made as they accumulated damage. FR is obtained directly from the ratio of the stress level at the onset of significant emission versus the maximum prior stress at the same AE level. The main objective of this paper is to describe the results of acousto-optic experiments using FBG sensors and present it as a way of determining accumulated damage in a carbon composite structure.