Monitorización de estructuras aeroespaciales y análisis de técnicas de integración de sensores de BRAGG

Abstract

The present doctoral thesis has as objective the study and development of the technology of Fiber Bragg Grating sensors for the structural monitoring, evaluating its main limitations and deficiencies which impede its use at real elements under industrial environments. With this aim, several fields have been investigated, providing methodologies and solutions to those weak points. The validity of Bragg sensors for the measurement of thermal loads has been demonstrated by means of numerous tests, both static and dynamic. The proper measure of the temperature enables to monitor the curing of composite material structures, being possible the analysis and characterisation of their manufacturing process and their service life. Although the multiple advantages of FBGs are widely known at industrial level, their use is restricted to laboratory applications under controlled conditions, as a consequence of their low survival rate. Several solutions have been developed, allowing the elaboration of robust and simple procedures for the integration of fiber optic sensors in real structures under operational conditions. The improvements and tools developed within the different lines have been applied to representative demonstrators of the civil and aerospace industries, relevant areas for the technology of Bragg sensors, where whose implementation could significantly improve the current processes of the structural monitoring and maintenance. Finally, a new method for the integration of Bragg sensors at metallic components has been proposed, which enables to create structures with embedded sensors at the regions of interest. This procedure is feasible thanks to the use of additive manufacturing technologies.