ABSTRACT
The current trend for embedding sensor systems in composite materials with the aim of producing selfmonitoring (“Smart”) components for future aerospace applications requires development in various fields before this aim can be a practical reality. The frequently studied optical fibre strain monitoring systems cannot be incorporated readily into composite materials by current aerospace industry manufacturing methods. Practical systems w ill require robust methods for sensor connection to instrumentation, both in production and service. The embedded sensors should have a minimal impact on the overall mechanical performance o f a part, and the monitored signals should reflect accurately the real strain distribution in a loaded structure. The local disturbances to the composite structure caused by embedding sensors w ill in themselves cause perturbations in the strain field within the material. This w ill cause localised strain indication errors and deviations from the overall stress and strain distributions. These effects require analytical prediction so that the signals from sensors may be interpreted in a meaningful manner. Additionally, the effects o f sensor response to strain and temperature require separation for meaningful measurements.
