Simulation Tools for a Fiber-Optic Based Structural Health Monitoring System

Abstract

Probability of detection (POD) graphics allow for a change from qualitative to quantitative assessment for every damage detection system, and as such it is a main request for conventional non-destructive testing (NDT) techniques. Its availability can greatly help towards the industrialization of the corresponding Structural health monitoring (SHM) system. But having in mind that for SHM systems the sensors are at fixed positions, and the location of a potential damage would change its detectability. Consequently robust simulation tools are required to obtain the model assisted probability of detection (MAPOD) which is needed to validate the SHM system. This tool may also help for the optimization of the sensor distribution, and finally will allow a probabilistic risk management. INDEUS, simulation of ultrasonic waves SHM system, was a main milestone in this direction. This article deals with the simulation tools for a strain based SHM system, using fiber optic sensors (FOS). FOS are essentially strain/temperature sensors, either with multi-point or with distributed sensing. The simulation tool includes the finite element model (FEM) for the original and damaged structure, and algorithms to compare the strain data at the pre-established sensors locations, and from this comparison to extract information about damage occurrence and location. The study has been applied to the structure of an all-composite unmanned aircraft vehicle (UAV) now under construction, designed at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid for the inspection of electrical utilities networks. Distributed sensing optical fibers were internally bonded at the fuselage and wing. Routine inspection is planned to be done with the aircraft at the test bench by imposing known loads. From the acquired strain data, damage occurrence may be calculated as slight deviations from the baselines. This is a fast inspection procedure without requiring trained specialists, and it would allow for detection of hidden damages. Simulation indicates that stringer partial debondings are detected before they become critical, while small delaminations as those produced by barely visible impact damages would require a prohibited number of sensing lines. These simulation tools may easily be applied to any other complex structure, just by changing the FEM models. From these results it is shown how a fiber optic based SHM system may be used as a reliable damage detection procedure.