Low Velocity Impact of Optical Fiber Embedded Laminated Graphite/Epoxy Panels. Part I: Macro-Scale

This paper uses nondestructive evaluation techniques to investigate the development of low velocity impact induced delamination in composite laminates with a single optical fiber embedded at the laminate mid-plane. Six different types of optical fibers ranging in diameter from 80 um to 600 Itm are embedded in [902/04 /OF(0)/0 4 /90 2 ], [906 /OF(0)/90 6 ], [(+45/-45)3/OF(0)/(-45/+45)31 AS4/3501-6 plates. With the exception of the 600 Am diameter fiber, it is found that optical fiber sensors embedded at the mid-plane of these laminates did not influence the size or distribution of the delamination damage. Micro-scale damage will be presented in Part II.