Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR

In recent years, the use of highly flexible wings in aerial vehicles (e.g., aircraft or drones) has been attracting increasing interest, as they are lightweight, which can improve fuel-efficiency and distinct flight performances. Continuous wing monitoring can provide valuable information to prevent...

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Main Authors: Miguel Soriano-Amat, David Fragas-Sánchez, Hugo F. Martins, David Vallespín-Fontcuberta, Javier Preciado-Garbayo, Sonia Martin-Lopez, Miguel Gonzalez-Herraez, María R. Fernández-Ruiz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/11/3766
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author Miguel Soriano-Amat
David Fragas-Sánchez
Hugo F. Martins
David Vallespín-Fontcuberta
Javier Preciado-Garbayo
Sonia Martin-Lopez
Miguel Gonzalez-Herraez
María R. Fernández-Ruiz
author_facet Miguel Soriano-Amat
David Fragas-Sánchez
Hugo F. Martins
David Vallespín-Fontcuberta
Javier Preciado-Garbayo
Sonia Martin-Lopez
Miguel Gonzalez-Herraez
María R. Fernández-Ruiz
author_sort Miguel Soriano-Amat
collection DOAJ
description In recent years, the use of highly flexible wings in aerial vehicles (e.g., aircraft or drones) has been attracting increasing interest, as they are lightweight, which can improve fuel-efficiency and distinct flight performances. Continuous wing monitoring can provide valuable information to prevent fatal failures and optimize aircraft control. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities of a distributed optical fiber sensor based on time-expanded phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (TE-ΦOTDR) technology for structural health monitoring of highly flexible wings, including static (i.e., bend and torsion), and dynamic (e.g., vibration) structural deformation. This distributed sensing technology provides a remarkable spatial resolution of 2 cm, with detection and processing bandwidths well under the MHz, arising as a novel, highly efficient monitoring methodology for this kind of structure. Conventional optical fibers were embedded in two highly flexible specimens that represented an aircraft wing, and different bending and twisting movements were detected and quantified with high sensitivity and minimal intrusiveness.
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spelling doaj.art-306812aee50c4372bf2dc79b526b83a22023-11-21T21:54:40ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202021-05-012111376610.3390/s21113766Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDRMiguel Soriano-Amat0David Fragas-Sánchez1Hugo F. Martins2David Vallespín-Fontcuberta3Javier Preciado-Garbayo4Sonia Martin-Lopez5Miguel Gonzalez-Herraez6María R. Fernández-Ruiz7Departamento de Electrónica, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Electrónica, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, SpainInstituto de Óptica, CSIC, 28006 Madrid, SpainR&D Department, ASD Division, Capgemini Engineering, C/Campezo 1, 28022 Madrid, SpainAragon Photonics Labs (APL), C/Prado 5, 50009 Zaragoza, SpainDepartamento de Electrónica, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Electrónica, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Electrónica, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, SpainIn recent years, the use of highly flexible wings in aerial vehicles (e.g., aircraft or drones) has been attracting increasing interest, as they are lightweight, which can improve fuel-efficiency and distinct flight performances. Continuous wing monitoring can provide valuable information to prevent fatal failures and optimize aircraft control. In this paper, we demonstrate the capabilities of a distributed optical fiber sensor based on time-expanded phase-sensitive optical time-domain reflectometry (TE-ΦOTDR) technology for structural health monitoring of highly flexible wings, including static (i.e., bend and torsion), and dynamic (e.g., vibration) structural deformation. This distributed sensing technology provides a remarkable spatial resolution of 2 cm, with detection and processing bandwidths well under the MHz, arising as a novel, highly efficient monitoring methodology for this kind of structure. Conventional optical fibers were embedded in two highly flexible specimens that represented an aircraft wing, and different bending and twisting movements were detected and quantified with high sensitivity and minimal intrusiveness.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/11/3766structural health monitoringaircraftflexible wingstime-expanded-ΦOTDRRayleigh scatteringdual frequency combs
spellingShingle Miguel Soriano-Amat
David Fragas-Sánchez
Hugo F. Martins
David Vallespín-Fontcuberta
Javier Preciado-Garbayo
Sonia Martin-Lopez
Miguel Gonzalez-Herraez
María R. Fernández-Ruiz
Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR
Sensors
structural health monitoring
aircraft
flexible wings
time-expanded-ΦOTDR
Rayleigh scattering
dual frequency combs
title Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR
title_full Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR
title_fullStr Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR
title_full_unstemmed Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR
title_short Monitoring of a Highly Flexible Aircraft Model Wing Using Time-Expanded Phase-Sensitive OTDR
title_sort monitoring of a highly flexible aircraft model wing using time expanded phase sensitive otdr
topic structural health monitoring
aircraft
flexible wings
time-expanded-ΦOTDR
Rayleigh scattering
dual frequency combs
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/11/3766
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