Finite Element Stress Analysis of Acrylic with Embedded Optical Fibre Sensors

Abstract

Finite element (FE) techniques are used to analyse mechanical stress in optical fibre sensors embedded in acrylic. The models represent many features observed in real materials with embedded fibre optic for stress and strain sensor application such as for health monitoring of structures. Three thicknesses, namely 6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm of acrylic were analyzed with the optical fibre embedded at the mid-plane of acrylic. The simulation was done by implementing Finite Element Method using ABAQUS software. Contact between acrylic and optical fibre was modelled as frictionless and with friction. The friction coefficient was varied for various values which are 0.3, and 0.5. This paper investigates the effect of friction coefficient and the effect of fibre optic's depth embedded in acrylic to the their von Misses stress. Simulation result shows that the higher the friction coefficient the higher von Misses stress in fibre optic and the higher von Misses stress in acrylic. The higher the fibre's depth the higher von Misses stress in fibre and the lower von Misses stress in acrylic. The maximum stress occurred for the coefficient of friction 0.5, with magnitude of 116.4 MPa and 58.72 MPa for acrylic and optical fibre respectively. The most significant effect of fibre's depth to the von Misses stress was obtained for 1 mm depth for acrylic and 5 mm for optical fibre, with magnitude of 72.64 MPa and 57.65 MPa for acrylic and optical fibre respectively.