Evaluation of a UAV composite wing spar repair using an embedded optical fiber Rayleigh back-scattering distributed strain sensing

A. Bergman, U. Ben-Simon, A. Schwartzberg, N. Y. Shemesh, B. Glam, J. Burvin, I. Kressel, T. Yehoshua, M. Tur

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

A representing damaged UAV wing spar cap was repaired using bonded unidirectional composite materials. For such a repair concept, its strength and long-term durability depend on optimizing the geometry of the repair in order to minimize stress concentration in the adhesive. In order to assess the stress distribution along the repair bond-line, an optical fiber was embedded during the repair application for distributed Rayleigh back-scattering strain measurement. The fiber was placed inside the structure, therefore enabling taking strain measurements, at a high spatial resolution, under the wing skin directly on the spar repair. This type of sensing concept can also be used to monitor this critical repair over time. It also coincides with the recently introduced airworthiness requirements for UAVs, where the substantiation of structural bonded joint can be based on: "repeatable and reliable non-destructive inspection".

Original languageEnglish
Pages398-401
Number of pages4
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event34th Conference and the 28th Symposium of the International Committee on Aeronautical Fatigue and Structural Integrity, ICAF 2015 - Helsinki, Finland
Duration: 1 Jun 20155 Jun 2015

Conference

Conference34th Conference and the 28th Symposium of the International Committee on Aeronautical Fatigue and Structural Integrity, ICAF 2015
Country/TerritoryFinland
CityHelsinki
Period1/06/155/06/15

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