This thesis is concerned with the interfacial and durability aspects of Extrinsic Fabry- Perot Interferometric (EFPI) sensors embedded in carbon fibre reinforced composites. Fibre optic sensors are being used in many long term applications and, as is the case for all sensor types, the ability of the EFPI sensors to monitor accurately the measurands of interest over the lifetime of the structure must be proved. Therefore, the aim of this work was to examine the interface between the EFPI sensors and the structures, and then to evaluate the durability of that interface and the sensors. The first stage was an examination of the EFPI sensors including the method of manufacture, interrogation option and inherent strength of the sensors. It was found that the sensors have a very low tensile load to failure (~0.5 N). This was improved by using a resin reinforcement, which was applied to the capillary ends. However, this had implications for the overall sensor size and that influenced their embedment suitability. The second stage was interfacial characterisation; this was achieved through the examination of the surface energy of the sensors, carried out by contact angle measurements; and the interfacial shear strength of the sensors to matrix, using a new variation on the single fibre pull-out technique that involved the use of optical fibres and composite prepreg. Overall, it was found that the silane treatment of the fibres increased the surface energy but for the interfacial shear results the data was less conclusive due to the scatter present within the results. The durability of the sensors was examined through their embedment into carbon fibre composite samples and exposure to tension/compression fatigue loading. From initial quasi-static work it was found that the embedment of the sensors had no significant effect on the composite samples. However, the sensors failed at a strain levels of 0.4% in tension and at 1.1% in compression; the compression strain level was at the point of composite failure. Under fatigue loading the sensors could survive a million cycles at R=-1 at a max stress level of 156 MPa and maintain their reliability. If the tensile loading was increased then the sensors would fail within a few thousand cycles. However, if the compressive stress was increased the sensors survived but the reliability was affected. Overall, it was felt that with some improvements to the sensor design they should be able to survive and provided useful data when exposed to axial tension/compression fatigue regimes.

This thesis is concerned with the interfacial and durability aspects of Extrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometric (EFPI) sensors embedded in carbon fibre reinforced composites. Fibre optic sensors are being used in many long term applications and, as is the case for all sensor types, the ability of the EFPI sensors to monitor accurately the measurands of interest over the lifetime of the structure must be proved. Therefore, the aim of this work was to examine the interface between the EFPI sensors and the structures, and then to evaluate the durability of that interface and the sensors. The first stage was an examination of the EFPI sensors including the method of manufacture, interrogation option and inherent strength of the sensors. It was found that the sensors have a very low tensile load to failure (~0.5 N). This was improved by using a resin reinforcement, which was applied to the capillary ends. However, this had implications for the overall sensor size and that influenced their embedment suitability. The second stage was interfacial characterisation; this was achieved through the examination of the surface energy of the sensors, carried out by contact angle measurements; and the interfacial shear strength of the sensors to matrix, using a new variation on the single fibre pull-out technique that involved the use of optical fibres and composite prepreg. Overall, it was found that the silane treatment of the fibres increased the surface energy but for the interfacial shear results the data was less conclusive due to the scatter present within the results. The durability of the sensors was examined through their embedment into carbon fibre composite samples and exposure to tension/compression fatigue loading. From initial quasi-static work it was found that the embedment of the sensors had no significant effect on the composite samples. However, the sensors failed at a strain levels of 0.4% in tension and at 1.1% in compression; the compression strain level was at the point of composite failure. Under fatigue loading the sensors could survive a million cycles at R=-1 at a max stress level of 156 MPa and maintain their reliability. If the tensile loading was increased then the sensors would fail within a few thousand cycles. However, if the compressive stress was increased the sensors survived but the reliability was affected. Overall, it was felt that with some improvements to the sensor design they should be able to survive and provided useful data when exposed to axial tension/compression fatigue regimes.

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRP) are an efficient and inexpensive method of repairing deteriorating infrastructure. FRP sheets can be applied to spalling bridge sections and columns to prevent further deterioration and increase stiffness. However, the effect of the environment on the long-term durability of FRP and how the various damage mechanisms initiate and develop are not known. Systems for structural health monitoring are being sought as a means of managing important components in transportation systems as assets in light of modern life cycle cost concepts. This study characterizes a fiber optic sensor for use in detecting acoustic emissions (AE) in FRP. The results of AE analysis (signal amplitude, frequency spectra, MARSE, and in-plane displacement) caused by simulated fiber fracture experiments and other types of mechanical loading in FRP test coupons are reported. The applications to the development of FRP structural health monitoring systems are also discussed. / Master of Science

This thesis concerns various aspects of the durability offibre optic sensors embedded in composite. Since repair orreplacement of embedded sensors is not generally possible, thefunctional reliability of embedded sensors is one of the mostimportant prerequisites for successful use. The main researchobjective was to investigate the interaction between the sensorand the composite, and how this is affecting the mechanical andoptical sensor response. Fibre optic sensors embedded incomposite structures induce local stress concentrations whenthe composite is subjected to mechanical loads andenvironmental changes such as temperature and moisture. Acomplex transfer of stresses through the interfaces between theembedded sensor and the composite occurs and can result inlarge local stresses in the composite and a significant changein the response of the embedded sensor. These stressconcentrations make the interfaces susceptible todebonding. The sensor performance was studied experimentally andnumerically. Some basic results were generated for the EFPI andBragg grating sensors. The phase-strain response was determinedduring static and fatigue loading. The results showed that thesensors were more reliable in compression than in tensilestatic and fatigue loading. Generally, the sensor reliabilityduring loading was significantly improved for the Bragg gratingsensors over that of the EFPI sensor, as an effect of thesensor geometry. This was also demonstrated in theinvestigations on impacts. Impacts do not necessarily result indamage in the composite, but might cause debonding or otherfailure modes in the sensor area. Large, local stressconcentrations occur at several positions in the EFPI sensor,which pointed out that this sensor type was not suitable forembedded applications. The shift in focus from the sensor concept based on the EFPIsensor to that based on the Bragg grating sensor manifesteditself in several studies. The calculated deformation fieldaround an embedded optical fibre was verified in experimentsusing a high-resolution moiré interferometric technique.Furthermore, the improvement in the coating technology wasverified. A significant higher interfacial strength wasobtained with the silane-treated glass surface. The resultsindicated that at least a twofold improvement of the shearstrength was obtained. To simultaneously measure the in-plane strain components andthe temperature change, embedded Bragg grating sensors werearranged in a rosette configuration. The relationship betweenthe optical response from each sensor and the strains in thelaminate was numerically and analytically established. Damage lead to stress redistribution in the sensor region,which may influence the output from the embedded Bragg gratingsensor. The effect was numerically evaluated for interfacialdamage, and was compared to that of a sensor with undamagedinterface. The results showed that debonding might have asignificant influence, in particular for combined thermal andmechanical loading. <b>Keywords</b>: composites, fibre optic sensor, embedded, EFPIsensor, Bragg grating sensor, durability, fatigue, impact,strain measurement, interface, stress analysis

<p>This thesis concerns various aspects of the durability offibre optic sensors embedded in composite. Since repair orreplacement of embedded sensors is not generally possible, thefunctional reliability of embedded sensors is one of the mostimportant prerequisites for successful use. The main researchobjective was to investigate the interaction between the sensorand the composite, and how this is affecting the mechanical andoptical sensor response. Fibre optic sensors embedded incomposite structures induce local stress concentrations whenthe composite is subjected to mechanical loads andenvironmental changes such as temperature and moisture. Acomplex transfer of stresses through the interfaces between theembedded sensor and the composite occurs and can result inlarge local stresses in the composite and a significant changein the response of the embedded sensor. These stressconcentrations make the interfaces susceptible todebonding.</p><p>The sensor performance was studied experimentally andnumerically. Some basic results were generated for the EFPI andBragg grating sensors. The phase-strain response was determinedduring static and fatigue loading. The results showed that thesensors were more reliable in compression than in tensilestatic and fatigue loading. Generally, the sensor reliabilityduring loading was significantly improved for the Bragg gratingsensors over that of the EFPI sensor, as an effect of thesensor geometry. This was also demonstrated in theinvestigations on impacts. Impacts do not necessarily result indamage in the composite, but might cause debonding or otherfailure modes in the sensor area. Large, local stressconcentrations occur at several positions in the EFPI sensor,which pointed out that this sensor type was not suitable forembedded applications.</p><p>The shift in focus from the sensor concept based on the EFPIsensor to that based on the Bragg grating sensor manifesteditself in several studies. The calculated deformation fieldaround an embedded optical fibre was verified in experimentsusing a high-resolution moiré interferometric technique.Furthermore, the improvement in the coating technology wasverified. A significant higher interfacial strength wasobtained with the silane-treated glass surface. The resultsindicated that at least a twofold improvement of the shearstrength was obtained.</p><p>To simultaneously measure the in-plane strain components andthe temperature change, embedded Bragg grating sensors werearranged in a rosette configuration. The relationship betweenthe optical response from each sensor and the strains in thelaminate was numerically and analytically established.</p><p>Damage lead to stress redistribution in the sensor region,which may influence the output from the embedded Bragg gratingsensor. The effect was numerically evaluated for interfacialdamage, and was compared to that of a sensor with undamagedinterface. The results showed that debonding might have asignificant influence, in particular for combined thermal andmechanical loading.</p><p><b>Keywords</b>: composites, fibre optic sensor, embedded, EFPIsensor, Bragg grating sensor, durability, fatigue, impact,strain measurement, interface, stress analysis</p>

Temperature sensing is one of the most common and needed sensing technique, especially in harsh environment like a coal gasifier or an airplane engine. Single crystal sapphire has been studied in the last two decades as a candidate for harsh environment sensing task, due to its excellent mechanical and optical properties under extreme high temperature (over 1000°C). In this research, a sapphire wafer based Fabry-Perot (FP) interferometer sensor has been proposed, whose functional temperature measurement can go beyond 1600°C. The size of the sensors can be limited to a 2cm-length tube, with 2mm outer diameter, which is suitable for a wide range of harsh environment applications. The sensors have shown linear sensing response during 20~1200°C temperature calibration, with high sensitivity and resolution, and strong robustness, which are ready for the field test in real-world harsh environment. / Master of Science

This thesis aimed at the development of a fibre optic strain sensor-based damage detection and evaluation system (FODDAS) based on the composite beams. EFPI strain sensors were used with their integrity being assessed. Their performance, either bonded on the surfaces or embedded was examined extensively. They were shown to be adequate and reliable for strain measurements. Through-the-width damages were simulated by artificially-embedded delaminations, which were located at several through-the-thickness locations, each with two different sizes. The overall design considerations were guided by ply stresses and strains which were estimated by using the modified classical lamination theory (CLT). Considerable efforts were devoted to assessing the through-the-thickness mechanical behaviours of the beams containing optical fibres in three-point bending and short beam shear (SBS). They involved various optical fibre orientations with respect to 00 plies / longitudinal axis and at various through-the-thickness locations, each with different number of optical fibres. The understanding of these behaviours paved the way for the evaluation of the beam-based FODDAS. Smart preconditioned beams were subjected to the quasi -static loads whose magnitudes and locations were required to be well controlled. The viability and effectiveness of the beam-based FODDAS was evaluated in terms of strength and strain obtained by the embedded sensor as well as the surface-bonded strain gauges via the cross comparison of ten cases. For the strength, each beam was incrementally loaded up to the ultimate failure either in three-point bending or SBS. After each increment, the beam was unloaded and inspected for damage. For the given locations of EFPI-SS and artificial delamination as well as the sizes of the latter, it was found that the embedded EFPI-SSs were capable of picking up the stiffness degradation when the 10- mm as well as the 20-mm delamination was located at the 29-30 ply interface in the tensile region of a 32-ply quasi-isotropic carbon/epoxy smart composite beam. It was speculated from single tests results that the propagation of the embedded delamination of the sufficient size was able not only to be detected but also to be monitored by the sensors.