Abstract

Embedded or attached optical fiber sensors may be used to measure the physical characteristics of materials, or structures fabricated from those materials, during their entire use lifetimes. First, fibers have been embedded in some materials, such as advanced composites and metals, to allow in-situ process monitoring. For such applications, the fiber and fiber coating must be able to withstand the processing conditions, and the chemical and mechanical interface between the fiber and the matrix is of concern. Polymer, silica and sapphire fiber-based sensors have been used in particular to monitor temperature, strain, resin chemistry, and local material modulus.

© 1991 Optical Society of America