Fiber optic sensors system for high-temperature monitoring of aerospace structures

The study and development of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) systems for aerospace applications is one of the best challenges for the research in the field of fiber optic (FO) sensors. The harsh environments in which these aerospace structures have to work are the major limit for the employment of standard fiber optic sensors for the thermo-mechanical monitoring processes. Thermal loads which act on these structures do not allow using standard fiber optic sensors used for classic avionics application. In fact, many aerospace structures can be exposed to temperatures up to 1000°C, higher than the operation temperature of the standard fiber optic sensors.