Mechanical and optical performance evaluations of embedded polyimide and PEEK coated distributed optical sensors in glass fibre reinforced composites with vinyl ester resin systems

Embedded optical fibre sensors (OFSs) offer the potential to monitor internal strains at various stages during manufacturing and service life of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composite structures. Various aspects associated with embedment OFSs, such as integration, material compatibility, sensing performance embedded sensor needs be investigated develop reliable OFSs based platform for In this study, Polyimide (PI) Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) coated fibres (OF) were into glass (GFRP) composites evaluate four important OFs, which include; i). Structural integrity OFs against chemical reactions from vinyl ester resin its additives through immersion testing, ii). Methods integrating layered vacuum infusion process, iii). Sensing structural testing (tensile compressive), iv). Internal host structure using X-Ray micro-computerised tomography technique (μ-CT). The results process monitoring showed that both PEEK PI can resist mechanical stresses caused by polymerisation curing process. subsequent a similar OFs. Under tensile loads, monitored strain distribution up 7,000 με compressive −1,200 under flexural loading without compromising their performance. Finally, μ-CT scanning had shown minimal deterioration structure. outcomes detailed experimental investigation on OFS in GFRP structures provided useful information towards integration