Ship Structural Health Monitoring Using Fiber Optic Sensors

Sponsored by: Office of Naval Research, Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) Program

Team Members: University of Maryland, College Park

AITHER developed a ship structural health monitoring system using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors. A High Speed – Fiber Optic Interrogation System (HS-FOIS) based on Digital Spatial Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DSWDM) technology was developed for this effort with the capability of simultaneous monitoring of up to 160 FBG sensors at speeds up to 3 kHz. A temperature-compensated sensor package, or Flat-Pack sensor, was also developed under this effort to remove the effect of temperature shifts on the strain sensors. The prototype health monitoring system was tested statically on an LPD-17 propeller undergoing fatigue testing, a JMLS modular dock connector during static failure tests, and dynamically on a laboratory tensile test specimen. All tests took place at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division (NSWCCD), and FBG strain sensor data was compared directly to resistance strain gage (RSG) data provided by NSWCCD engineers. FBG and RSG strain data matched closely prompting a Phase III SBIR contract award to complete a full-scale ship test on the British Research Vessel R/V Triton.

For more information on the DSWDM technology, LPD-17 tests, and R/V Triton please read our conference and journal papers under publications.