All-fiber optic ultrasonic structural health monitoring system

Abstract

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is required for early detection of damage in structural components to improve the safety, reduce the cost, and increase the performance and efficiency of aircrafts. Currently available techniques have a number of deficiencies prohibiting wide spread of SHM in aerospace applications. In this contribution we will present the initial results of development at Luna Innovations of an all-fiber optic ultrasonic airframe SHM system that will be able to address the deficiencies of solutions suggested/developed to date. In this contribution we will present the details on design, development and testing of the prototype fiber optic SHM system.