A Method for Determining the Locations of Impacts in a Composite Material Using Fiber Optical Acoustic Emission Sensors

A method is described for determining the position of an acoustic source in composite materials using Fabry–Perot fiber-optic interferometers. The proposed method is based on the analysis of the time of arrival of acoustic signals to sensitive elements during mechanical action on a composite material. The relative times of arrival of signals to the sensitive elements, which depend on the location of the source of impact, were modeled and the method was calibrated by finding the optimal threshold values for the correct recording of the time of arrival of the acoustic signal. The experimental setup is described and the experimental conditions are indicated. The developed localization method was implemented in the experimental laonet of the acoustic emission signal recorder and studied in the experiment. The error of the proposed method is estimated. The directions of further research and ways to improve the proposed method are considered.