Integration of fiber optic sensors into CFRP for Structural Health Monitoring of a marine composite propeller
Topic(s) : Industrial applications
Co-authors :
Maria XENIDOU (GREECE), Kyriaki TSIRKA (GREECE), Andreas KALOGIROU (GREECE), Alkiviadis PAIPETIS (GREECE)Abstract :
Aspects related to integrating an SHM system in terms of design, manufacturing, and implementation for continuous structural health monitoring are being examined during the CoPropel project. A fiber optic SHM system will be embedded into the blades of a composite marine propeller to measure the strain sustained during small-scale hydrodynamic testing in a controlled environment and large-scale sea trials. During testing the acquired strain data from the sensors will be visualized and compared with the data from the numerical simulations. Furthermore, to achieve data transmission from the rotating propeller blade to the data acquisition system on the vessel a fiber optic rotary joint is utilized with a supportive structural component designed to protect the sensors without affecting the flow.
This study explores the constraints associated with implementing a DFOS (Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing) system technology within composite laminates for strain measurement, prior to its application in a rotating component underwater. Various parameters, including material mechanical degradation, the capability of accurate strain measurement under loading conditions, and the effect of an embedded fiber optic sensor on the external surface of the material are evaluated. Initially, the investigation focuses on integrating the fiber optic sensor into the composite laminate. Subsequently, specimens with integrated sensors undergo mechanical testing to assess the effect of an embedded sensor on the mechanical properties of the host composite material and test the sensor's accuracy by conducting measurements under various loading conditions.
Specimens with and without embedded fiber optic sensors are tested under 3 Point bending, tensile and fatigue loads to evaluate the minimum impact of the optical fiber to the mechanical properties of the host material. During mechanical testing, the embedded FOS acquired strain that is analyzed and compared to the theoretical strain calculated from the loading, the specimen’s geometry, and the material’s properties. The optical fiber's effect on the blade's external surface is evaluated by integrating optical fibers at different layers of the composite laminate and obtaining measurements via a profilometer.
The findings of this study aim to validate, optimize, and demonstrate the practical application of distributed fiber optic sensing technology in composite materials for effective structural health monitoring. The data analysis from the integrated sensors provided a comprehensive understanding of the system’s performance and reliability prior implementation on a more complex geometry under real operational conditions and loads.
This study explores the constraints associated with implementing a DFOS (Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing) system technology within composite laminates for strain measurement, prior to its application in a rotating component underwater. Various parameters, including material mechanical degradation, the capability of accurate strain measurement under loading conditions, and the effect of an embedded fiber optic sensor on the external surface of the material are evaluated. Initially, the investigation focuses on integrating the fiber optic sensor into the composite laminate. Subsequently, specimens with integrated sensors undergo mechanical testing to assess the effect of an embedded sensor on the mechanical properties of the host composite material and test the sensor's accuracy by conducting measurements under various loading conditions.
Specimens with and without embedded fiber optic sensors are tested under 3 Point bending, tensile and fatigue loads to evaluate the minimum impact of the optical fiber to the mechanical properties of the host material. During mechanical testing, the embedded FOS acquired strain that is analyzed and compared to the theoretical strain calculated from the loading, the specimen’s geometry, and the material’s properties. The optical fiber's effect on the blade's external surface is evaluated by integrating optical fibers at different layers of the composite laminate and obtaining measurements via a profilometer.
The findings of this study aim to validate, optimize, and demonstrate the practical application of distributed fiber optic sensing technology in composite materials for effective structural health monitoring. The data analysis from the integrated sensors provided a comprehensive understanding of the system’s performance and reliability prior implementation on a more complex geometry under real operational conditions and loads.