PNIPU: Fiber-optic "threads" for tracking deformation and destruction of critical structures

Main article: What is the Internet of things (Internet of Things, IoT)

2021: Development of technology for instantaneous tracking of critical structures destruction

Researchers from Perm Polytechnic have developed a technology that allows you to instantly track the destruction of critical structures. This was announced by the university on November 18, 2021. This can be done using Smart layers - fiber-optic "threads" that are embedded inside composite products, and they can also be attached to the surface of finished structures. The development will help to monitor the status of products in real time without stopping the production process. Scientists published the results of the study in the journals AIP Conference Proceedings and the Journal of Optical Technology. They completed the work within the framework of the state task of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

{{quote 'As of November 2021, fiber-optic sensors are used to track deformation and destruction of critical structures, but it is difficult to install them on the surface or introduce them into the structure of products, since a fragile fiber line can break down. Foreign scientists have developed special "packages" with thick walls for monitoring, but they are distorted data and unsuitable for introduction into the structure of the structure. Therefore, we proposed the use of thin-walled Smart-layers. They will be able to carry out diagnostics in real time and determine the durability of products, "said an assistant professor at the Department of Mechanics of Composite Materials and Structures, a researcher at the Scientificallyeducational Center for Acoustic Research, Development and Production of Composite and Sound-Absorbing Aircraft Structures Perm Polytechnic, candidate of technical sciences Gleb Shipunov. }}

Perm researchers have created Smart layers based on fiber Bragg grids and polymer films. Unlike analogues, thin designs can operate in a wide range of temperatures and provide high diagnostic accuracy. Smart layers can be quickly and efficiently placed on the surface of any composite structure without damaging the sensors. When introduced into the product structure, the fiber is not destroyed, and sensors are not "lost" in the polymer material.

Other monitoring systems that are used as of November 2021 are not always suitable for diagnosing large-format structures or require special equipment in expensive laboratories and stopping the production process.

Rapid remote monitoring improves the durability and safety of structures, reducing the influence of the human factor. In addition, due to our development, it is possible to reduce the financial and time costs of enterprises for repair and maintenance, "the researcher explained.

To study the effectiveness of technology, scientists at Perm Polytechnic conducted a series of tests together with colleagues from the Center for Experimental Mechanics and the Institute of Continuous Media Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

The innovative monitoring system will be promising for implementation in aviation, aerospace, mining, railway, construction and bridge engineering, the developers say. Scientists have already presented the first prototypes that are ready for implementation at enterprises. As of November 2021, the development is in search of interested companies on the basis of which development work can be carried out.