Fiber Optic Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring of Air Platforms.docVIP

Sensors 2011, 11, 3687-3705; doi:10.3390/s110403687 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Review Fiber Optic Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring of Air Platforms Honglei Guo 1, Gaozhi Xiao 2,*, Nezih Mrad 3,* and Jianping Yao 1 1 Microwave Photonics Research Laboratory, School of Information Technology and Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada; E-Mails: hguo062@uottawa.ca (H.G.); jpyao@site.uottawa.ca (J.Y.) 2 Institute for Microstructural Sciences, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada 3 Air Vehicles Research Section, Defence RD Canada, Department of National Defence, National Defence Headquarters, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2, Canada * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: George.Xiao@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca (G.X.); Tel.: +1-613-991-6159 (G.X.); E-Mail: Nezih.Mrad@drdc-rddc.gc.ca (N.M.); Tel.: +1-613-993-6443 (N.M.). Received: 1 February 2011; in revised form: 18 March 2011 / Accepted: 21 March 2011 / Published: 25 March 2011 Abstract: Aircraft operators are faced with increasing requirements to extend the service life of air platforms beyond their designed life cycles, resulting in heavy maintenance and inspection burdens as well as economic pressure. Structural health monitoring (SHM) based on advanced sensor technology is potentially a cost-effective approach to meet operational requirements, and to reduce maintenance costs. Fiber optic sensor technology is being developed to provide existing and future aircrafts with SHM capability due to its unique superior characteristics. This review paper covers the aerospace SHM requirements and an overview of the fiber optic sensor technologies. In particular, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor technology is evaluated as the most promising tool for load monitoring and damage detection, the two critical SHM aspects of air platforms. At last, recommendations on the implementation and integration of FBG