SBIR Phase I: Photonic Sensors for Nondestructive Evaluation Applications

这一小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第一阶段研究项目将支持开发无损检测和评估传感器系统，该系统能够测量先进材料和结构的应变状态，并检测和定位这些材料和结构中的损伤。提出的传感器由一组以玫瑰花状结构制造的应力敏感布拉格光栅组成，能够测量应变、应力状态，并检测先进结构中损伤的存在和位置。在第一阶段中，将展示该传感器具有大动态范围、高精度和高灵敏度测量应变状态的能力。此外，我们将使用超声波方法来演示传感器检测应力波的能力，该应力波指示金属结构中损伤的存在和位置。光栅花环传感器、光源和数据采集将由一个自动化系统控制，能够确定先进材料和结构中的应变状态以及损伤的严重程度和位置。这种新型无损检测传感器系统将为航空和民用先进结构的损伤评估和结构失效分析提供一种经济高效的解决方案，从而为航空和土木工程行业节省大量成本。超声波传感器技术的进步将使研究人员能够利用这项技术更好地了解导致大型复杂结构材料失效的退化机理。低成本、高灵敏度的传感器技术将通过具有成本效益的结构和材料状况评估和诊断来提高公共安全。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I research project will support the development of a nondestructive inspection and evaluation sensor system, capable of measuring state of strain of advanced materials and structures as well as detecting and locating damages in these materials and structures. The proposed sensors consist of an array of stress sensitive Bragg gratings fabricated in a rosette configuration, which are capable of measuring state of strain, stress, and detecting damage presence and location in advanced structures. In Phase I, the sensor's capability to measure state of strain with large dynamic range, high accuracy and high sensitivity will be demonstrated. In addition, an ultrasonic method we will be used to demonstrate the sensor' capability to detect stress waves indicating the presence and location of damages in a metal structure. The grating rosette sensor, light source, and data acquisition will be controlled by an automated system, capable of determining the state of strain as well as the severity and locations of damages present in the advanced materials and structures.This novel NDE sensor system will offer significant cost saving for both the aviation andcivil engineering industries by providing a cost-effective solution for damage evaluation and structural failure analysis in aerospace and civil advanced structures. Advances in the ultrasonic wave sensor technology will permit researchers to utilize this technology to better understand degradation mechanism leading to material failure in large and complex structures. The low-cost, high sensitivity sensor technology will improve public safety as a result of cost-effective structural and material condition evaluation and diagnostics.