Fabry–Perot fiber-optic sensors in full-scale fatigue testing on an F-15 aircraft

Abstract

We report results from fiber optic sensor field tests on an F-15 mounted within a full-scale test frame for the purpose of fatigue testing at the Structures Test Facility, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Static and dynamic loading data obtained using multiple extrinsic Fabry- Perot fiber optic sensors is presented. The output fringes from two quadrature phase shifted Fabry-Perot sensors were linearized using computerized software. The results compare well with data obtained from conventional strain gauges located adjacent to the fiber optic sensors. Strain sensitivities on the order of 0.01 μ/m were observed.