Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor
Composite materials are increasingly used in the aviation industry for various aircraft components due to their lightweight and mechanical performances. However, these materials are susceptible to degradation due to environmental factors such as hot–wet environments and freeze–thaw cycles, which can...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1037 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850080910366474240 |
|---|---|
| author | Pietro Aceti Lorenzo Calervo Paolo Bettini Giuseppe Sala |
| author_facet | Pietro Aceti Lorenzo Calervo Paolo Bettini Giuseppe Sala |
| author_sort | Pietro Aceti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Composite materials are increasingly used in the aviation industry for various aircraft components due to their lightweight and mechanical performances. However, these materials are susceptible to degradation due to environmental factors such as hot–wet environments and freeze–thaw cycles, which can compromise their performance and safety over time. This study develops an innovative Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor system capable of not only measuring but also decoupling the simultaneous effects of temperature, humidity and strain. Unlike existing FBG systems, our approach integrates a novel theoretical framework and sensor configuration that accurately isolates these parameters in an epoxy resin material. The system incorporates three FBG sensors: one for temperature, one for temperature and humidity and a third one for all three factors. A theoretical framework based on linear strain superposition and constitutive laws was developed to isolate the individual contributions of each factor. Experimental validation in controlled hygrothermal conditions demonstrated the system’s ability to accurately detect and decouple these effects, enabling the monitoring of moisture absorption and composite degradation over time. The proposed system provides a reliable, lightweight and efficient solution for the long-term monitoring of composite structures in extreme conditions. Additionally, it enhances predictive maintenance by improving the accuracy of Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMSs) and provides a method to correct data inconsistencies in already installed sensors, further extending their operational value. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de3cd9d1e2ba4c43902317e7be68cc5a |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-de3cd9d1e2ba4c43902317e7be68cc5a2025-08-20T02:44:50ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01254103710.3390/s25041037Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating SensorPietro Aceti0Lorenzo Calervo1Paolo Bettini2Giuseppe Sala3Department of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa n.34, 20156 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa n.34, 20156 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa n.34, 20156 Milano, ItalyDepartment of Aerospace Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, Via La Masa n.34, 20156 Milano, ItalyComposite materials are increasingly used in the aviation industry for various aircraft components due to their lightweight and mechanical performances. However, these materials are susceptible to degradation due to environmental factors such as hot–wet environments and freeze–thaw cycles, which can compromise their performance and safety over time. This study develops an innovative Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor system capable of not only measuring but also decoupling the simultaneous effects of temperature, humidity and strain. Unlike existing FBG systems, our approach integrates a novel theoretical framework and sensor configuration that accurately isolates these parameters in an epoxy resin material. The system incorporates three FBG sensors: one for temperature, one for temperature and humidity and a third one for all three factors. A theoretical framework based on linear strain superposition and constitutive laws was developed to isolate the individual contributions of each factor. Experimental validation in controlled hygrothermal conditions demonstrated the system’s ability to accurately detect and decouple these effects, enabling the monitoring of moisture absorption and composite degradation over time. The proposed system provides a reliable, lightweight and efficient solution for the long-term monitoring of composite structures in extreme conditions. Additionally, it enhances predictive maintenance by improving the accuracy of Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMSs) and provides a method to correct data inconsistencies in already installed sensors, further extending their operational value.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1037moisture detectionfiber bragg grating (FBG) sensorshygrothermal-mechanical effectsbragg equationstructural health monitoring (SHM)health and usage monitoring systems (HUMSs) |
| spellingShingle | Pietro Aceti Lorenzo Calervo Paolo Bettini Giuseppe Sala Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Sensors moisture detection fiber bragg grating (FBG) sensors hygrothermal-mechanical effects bragg equation structural health monitoring (SHM) health and usage monitoring systems (HUMSs) |
| title | Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor |
| title_full | Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor |
| title_fullStr | Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor |
| title_short | Measurement and Decoupling of Hygrothermal-Mechanical Effects with Optical Fibers: Development of a New Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor |
| title_sort | measurement and decoupling of hygrothermal mechanical effects with optical fibers development of a new fiber bragg grating sensor |
| topic | moisture detection fiber bragg grating (FBG) sensors hygrothermal-mechanical effects bragg equation structural health monitoring (SHM) health and usage monitoring systems (HUMSs) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/4/1037 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pietroaceti measurementanddecouplingofhygrothermalmechanicaleffectswithopticalfibersdevelopmentofanewfiberbragggratingsensor AT lorenzocalervo measurementanddecouplingofhygrothermalmechanicaleffectswithopticalfibersdevelopmentofanewfiberbragggratingsensor AT paolobettini measurementanddecouplingofhygrothermalmechanicaleffectswithopticalfibersdevelopmentofanewfiberbragggratingsensor AT giuseppesala measurementanddecouplingofhygrothermalmechanicaleffectswithopticalfibersdevelopmentofanewfiberbragggratingsensor |