Fiber Optics

Optical fibers have been the standard in telecommunications for years, but they are now also being used more and more in structural health monitoring (SHM). Due to their ability to transport light over very long distances almost without any loss, they are well suited for monitoring larger structures or components. Depending on the measuring method, spatial resolutions in the sub-millimeter range can be achieved. Due to their small diameter, they can also be used in very small structures. This diversity of fiber optic sensors makes them interesting for a wide range of applications.

At the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT we have been working on the use of optical fibers in sensor technology for a long time. The advantage lies above all in their great miniaturization potential due to their small size and low weight. In addition, they are immune to electromagnetic interference and resistant to external influences, which makes them installable in almost all environments. This makes them particularly interesting for the use in structural health monitoring. In the SmartVessel research project, for example, fiber optic sensors are integrated into hydrogen tanks made of fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) during the manufacturing process. This way, the remaining service life of the tanks can be predicted. Based on an intelligent monitoring of the tanks, maintenance can be planned condition-dependently instead of periodically and the lifetime of the tanks can be extended.

About the seminar

The online seminar will give an overview of the possibilities of using smart fiber optic sensors in components to increase their lifetime. First, the measuring principle of fiber optic structure health monitoring including different measuring methods as well as the current state of research will be presented. In the further course, possible integration options and the use for different industrial application areas will be discussed.

Afterwards, all participants have the opportunity to ask individual questions. In addition, the speakers will also be available after the seminar as contact persons for in-depth questions.

The online seminar will be conducted on Microsoft Teams.

Suitable for

Companies in the production of lightweight components, automotive industry, aerospace, energy storage, wind turbine manufacturers and everyone who is interested in gaining more information about their structures e.g., for prototyping or predictive maintenance

Key Facts

• Date: Thursday, April 20, 2023, 3.00-4.00 p.m. CET
  
• Participation fee: free of charge
• Number of participants: at least 5
• Implementation: Microsoft Teams