Distributed optical fibre smart sensors for acoustic sensing in the structural health monitoring of robust aerospace vehicles
type: CreativeWork
description: The use of distributed optical fibre smart sensors for the detection of acoustic signals in the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of robust aerospace vehicles has been demonstrated. Current distributed optical fibre sensors are multiplexed along a single fibre. Inherent problems exist with a multiplexed architecture. Two significant issues are; the possibility of fibre breakage, and the possibility of failure of the single transmitter, the single receiver, or the single processor. In a ‘smart’ architecture, the intelligence, as well as the sensors, is distributed. Hence, if destructive damage occurs, then the SHM system can continue to operate in all other locations on the vehicle, making the system robust. Work on the optical fibre sensors was limited to acoustic signals. This included acoustic emissions, acousto-ultrasonics, acoustic transmissions and other dynamic strain signals. Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBGs) were chosen as the optical fibre sensor for the detection of the acoustic signals. FBGs offer significant advantages over other types of optical fibre sensors. The most significant of these is the ease of multiplexing and their versatility, i.e. the ability of FBGs to detect a significant number of measurands. In the work on optical fibre sensing, we showed the implementation of an innovative detection system. This Transmit Reflect Detection System (TRDS) made use of both the transmitted and reflected signals from the FBG. The TRDS is an improvement on conventional power detection where either the transmitted or reflected component is used. The TRDS was used to successfully detect all types of dynamic and static signals, the most significant being the acoustic emission from a lead pencil break test. The use of the FBG sensor as a receiver for acoustic communications was also shown. Acoustic communications have been proposed for use in the SHM of robust aerospace vehicles with the use of autonomous agents, e.g. inspection or repair robots. The FBG receivers we…
abstract: The use of distributed optical fibre smart sensors for the detection of acoustic signals in the Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of robust aerospace vehicles has been demonstrated. Current distributed optical fibre sensors are multiplexed along a single fibre. Inherent problems exist with a multiplexed architecture. Two significant issues are; the possibility of fibre breakage, and the possibility of failure of the single transmitter, the single receiver, or the single processor. In a ‘smart’ architecture, the intelligence, as well as the sensors, is distributed. Hence, if destructive damage occurs, then the SHM system can continue to operate in all other locations on the vehicle, making the system robust. Work on the optical fibre sensors was limited to acoustic signals. This included acoustic emissions, acousto-ultrasonics, acoustic transmissions and other dynamic strain signals. Fibre Bragg Gratings (FBGs) were chosen as the optical fibre sensor for the detection of the acoustic signals. FBGs offer significant advantages over other types of optical fibre sensors. The most significant of these is the ease of multiplexing and their versatility, i.e. the ability of FBGs to detect a significant number of measurands. In the work on optical fibre sensing, we showed the implementation of an innovative detection system. This Transmit Reflect Detection System (TRDS) made use of both the transmitted and reflected signals from the FBG. The TRDS is an improvement on conventional power detection where either the transmitted or reflected component is used. The TRDS was used to successfully detect all types of dynamic and static signals, the most significant being the acoustic emission from a lead pencil break test. The use of the FBG sensor as a receiver for acoustic communications was also shown. Acoustic communications have been proposed for use in the SHM of robust aerospace vehicles with the use of autonomous agents, e.g. inspection or repair robots. The FBG receivers we…
author: Wild, Graham
keywords: Aerospace vehicles, optical fibre, autonomous, Aerospace Engineering, Structures and Materials
date published: 2010-01-01T08:00:00Z
date modified: 2026-07-27T19:21:32Z
provider: Edith Cowan University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia