22nd Congress of International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Harrogate, UK, 28 August - 1st September, 2000
Paper ICAS 2000-4.9.R1

FIBEROPTIC SMART SENSING OF COMPONENT DEFORMATIONS IN ADAPTIVE WINGS

M. Trutzel (1), H. F. Siegling (1), D. Betz (1), R. Sangkhol (1), L. Staudigel (1), W. Martin (2), O. Krumpholz (1)
DaimlerChrysler AG, Research and Technology, Germany; (1) Optical Interconnects and Optical Sensors (FT2/HV), Ulm; (2) Structural Materials (FT4/W), Munich

Keywords: bragg grating sensors, sensor reliability, thermal / mechanical stability, adaptive wing

This paper presents research activities focusing on the use of fiberoptic Bragg grating sensors in a broad range of modern transportation systems in the aerospace, automotive, and railway industries. The application of Bragg grating sensors in airplane wings and especially in future adaptive wings is illustrated. A challenge associated with using Bragg grating sensors in realworld applications is that an extremely high thermal and mechanical reliability of up to 10- 30 years is required for the sensors. Therefore, this work deals with experimental results concerning the mechanical and thermal performance of fiberoptic Bragg grating sensors. Special focus will be put on the reliability of drawtower fabricated gratings. In addition, the impact of the fiber coating on the sensor sensitivity will be generally discussed. We will report on a field test performed at DASA Airbus on the surface of a newly developed wing consisting of a carbon fiber-reinforced material. The results of the field test clearly show the functionality of the fiberoptic sensor system based on Bragg gratings.

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