Health monitoring of large composite structures by using fiber optic distributed strain sensors - Experiences at America's Cup 2000-

Abstract

Health monitoring technologies of a structure made of polymer matrix composites have lately become a subject of special interest. International America's Cup Class (IACC) yachts are specific boats whose most components made of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and that are regulated by the IACC rule. A Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) is a fiber optic distributed sensor that can measure strain and temperature along an optical fiber. We equipped IACC yachts that were the Japanese entry in America's Cup 2000 with these sensors. Strain distributions of the yachts measured with BOTDR were used for structural health monitoring and assessments of the structural integrity were continued during races.