A novel fibre optic acoustic emission sensor

R. Chen; P. Theobald; M. Gower; S. Malik; J. Burns; E. Fernandes; G. Bryce; G. F. Fernando

doi:10.1117/12.776170

8 April 2008 A novel fibre optic acoustic emission sensor

R. Chen, P. Theobald, M. Gower, S. Malik, J. Burns, E. Fernandes, G. Bryce, G. F. Fernando

Proceedings Volume 6932, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2008; 693237 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776170
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

This paper presents the design, theory, characterisation and application of a novel fibre optic acoustic emission (AE) sensor. The sensor consists of a pair of optical fibres that are heated, fused and drawn to create a fused-tapered region that is sensitive to acoustic perturbations. The sensor is housed in a silica V-groove. The modelling of this fibre optic AE sensor is presented with a finite element analysis on the strain field based on the effect of the geometry within the sensing region. The characterisation of the sensor was carried out using a glass block with 160mm thickness as an acoustic medium. The applications of this sensor were demonstrated in three experiments. Firstly, the sensor was surface-mounted in carbon fibre reinforced composite samples and tested to failure under tensile loading. In the second experiment, the sensor was surface-mounted on double-cantilever Mode-I test specimens. The AE response from the sensor was correlated to the inferred modes of failure during the Mode-I test. In the third experiment, the sensor was surface-mounted onto the composite "blow-off" test samples. The feasibility of using the sensor to detect damage development in real-time was demonstrated.

Citation Download Citation

R. Chen, P. Theobald, M. Gower, S. Malik, J. Burns, E. Fernandes, G. Bryce, and G. F. Fernando "A novel fibre optic acoustic emission sensor", Proc. SPIE 6932, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2008, 693237 (8 April 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.776170

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