Overview of Fiber Optic Sensor Technologies for Strain/Temperature Sensing Applications in Composite Materials

Manjusha Ramakrishnan; Ginu Rajan; Yuliya Semenova; Gerald Farrell

doi:10.3390/s16010099

Overview of Fiber Optic Sensor Technologies for Strain/Temperature Sensing Applications in Composite Materials

Sensors (Basel). 2016 Jan 15;16(1):99. doi: 10.3390/s16010099.

Authors

Manjusha Ramakrishnan¹, Ginu Rajan², Yuliya Semenova³, Gerald Farrell⁴

Affiliations

¹ Photonics Research Centre, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. manjusha.ramakrishnan@student.dit.ie.
² School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia. ginu@uow.edu.au.
³ Photonics Research Centre, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. yuliya.semenova@dit.ie.
⁴ Photonics Research Centre, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. gerald.farrell@dit.ie.

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the different types of fiber optic sensors (FOS) that can be used with composite materials and also their compatibility with and suitability for embedding inside a composite material. An overview of the different types of FOS used for strain/temperature sensing in composite materials is presented. Recent trends, and future challenges for FOS technology for condition monitoring in smart composite materials are also discussed. This comprehensive review provides essential information for the smart materials industry in selecting of appropriate types of FOS in accordance with end-user requirements.

Keywords: composite materials; fiber optic sensor; smart materials; strain/temperature sensing; structural health monitoring.

Publication types

Review