Study of thermo-mechanical characteristics of polymer composite materials with embedded optical fibre

The purpose of the paper consists in presenting the simulation results obtained in analysing a major issue concerning the fabrication of smart composite materials (SCM) using fibre optic sensors, more exactly Long Period Grating Fibre Sensors (LPGFS) for the necessary feedback at environment inputs such as mechanical stress, strain, temperature or pressure. There is an increasing interest SCM regarding their various medical care, security, industry and aerospace applications. The major analysed issue of SCM using LPGFS fabrication and exploitation is how to investigate the mechanical characteristics of the optical fibre with grating (essential for its sensing capabilities) after embedding into the polymer matrix of a composite. One task to be accomplished by the performed analysis is to get accurate information about mechanical loads such as elongation, torsion and/or bending induced in the LPGFS by the composite polymer matrix in which it is embedded. For performing the proposed analysis of thermo-mechanical characteristics of composite polymer matrix having a LPGFS embedded inside it a simple FEM technique is used. The polymer and optical fibre thermal and mechanical characteristics are taken into account. The analysis is performed in order to design and manufacture smart polymer composite materials using fibre optics sensors.