Polymer-matrix composites degrade under the influence of UV radiation in the range of the 290-400 nm band. The degradation of polymer-matrix composites exposed to UV radiation is characterized by extensive aging of the epoxy matrix, resulting in deterioration of their mechanical properties. Glass fibers/epoxy resin composites were made by an out-of-autoclave method whereas a fiber optic sensor was placed between different layers of laminates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF'Smart' structural health monitoring of composite materials with optical fiber sensors is becoming more and more important, especially in the aviation industry. This paper presents an overview of hybrid fiber-optic sensing systems based on scattering techniques, fiber Bragg gratings, interferometric techniques, and polarimetric methods in structural health monitoring. The main purpose of this manuscript is to analyze the possibilities of using hybrid sensors based on fiber optics to monitor composite structures, with a particular emphasis on aircraft structures.
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