FBG Sensor Applications in Aerospace Engineering

Abstract

Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have emerged as a preferred choice in various industries, including telecommunications, civil, aerospace, and automotive, for monitoring various parameters due to the advancements in fiber optic technology. They possess exceptional qualities, including outstanding sensitivity, flexibility, lightweight, multiplexing, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. FBG sensors are an exemplary choice for aerospace engineering applications that require remote detection, high precision, and lightweight design. These sensors leverage changes in fiber properties caused by perturbations like polarization, strain or temperature etc. When these perturbations occur, they either alter grating pitch or modal index, resulting in a relative resonance wavelength shift. Measuring this shift enables the detection and quantification of physical changes, yielding essential data for structural integrity evaluations. This chapter covers the utilization of FBG sensors for monitoring the structural health in aircrafts/ Avionics industry. It also covers the case studies that emphasize using FBG for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in aircraft, showcasing their efficacy in practical situations. It also illustrates how SHM can contribute to safer, more efficient operations in aerospace engineering.