A Close Look at the Embedment of Optical Fibers into Composite Structures

A way in which to control vibrations at the tip of a flexible beam prompted this research. Polyimide coated multi-mode optical fibers were embedded between layers of the composite beam in order to measure strain as the beam is deformed. A close look at the embedment of the optical fibers between layers of preimpregnated unidirectional carbon fiber tape after cure is shown, and the results discussed. Mechanical tests were performed on composite specimens with embedded optical fibers and photographs of embedded optical fibers after the mechanical tests were performed are shown in detail.