Accession Number:

ADA247114

Title:

Optical Fiber Sensors for Organic Matrix Composite Material Cure Monitoring. Phase 1

Descriptive Note:

Final rept.

Corporate Author:

FIMOD CORP BLACKSBURG VA

Personal Author(s):

• Zimmermann, Bernd D.

Report Date:

1991-04-15

Pagination or Media Count:

67.0

Abstract:

The report describes experiments that were conducted to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel optical fiber based composite cure monitoring technique. Preliminary investigations were conducted using a fast cure, industrial grade epoxy in a neat resin environment. Neat resin tests were demonstrated using a more common composite resin, Hercules 3501-6 material. A neat resin cure monitoring station, which allowed repeatable cure monitoring results, was developed. A cure monitor assembly which addressed practical feasibility issues, was also developed. This assembly made it possible to interface the relatively fragile resin fiber elements with standard all-silica lead fibers without requiring micro-positioning equipment for alignment. In order to simplify the data acquisition process during the cure monitoring cycle, a PC-Basic routine was written which allowed continuous retrieval of data from a multi-channel optical meter as well as conventional thermocouples. This routine was used to perform cure monitoring measurements on Hercules 3501-6AS4 composite coupons. Normalized Transmitted Power as a function of cure was monitored and showed correlation to the neat resin experiments conducted earlier.

Descriptors:

• *OPTICAL PROPERTIES
• MULTICHANNEL
• STATIONS
• MEASUREMENT
• FIBERS
• INDUSTRIES
• ENVIRONMENTS
• ACQUISITION
• MONITORING
• POLYMERS
• COMPOSITE MATERIALS
• CYCLES
• MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
• INFORMATION RETRIEVAL
• DATA ACQUISITION
• CURING
• OPTICAL DETECTORS
• REPRODUCIBILITY
• THERMOCOUPLES
• TEST AND EVALUATION
• FIBER OPTICS

Subject Categories:

• Laminates and Composite Materials
• Plastics
• Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering and Control of Production Systems
• Optical Detection and Detectors
• Optics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE