On measuring laminate strains of a bent tapered Double-Double panel – Comparing strain data from an FE calculation, a high-resolution 3D camera system (ARAMIS) and a fiber-optical sensor system (FOSS)

Abstract

The article reports on a preliminary experimental study, which was executed to validate the laminate tapering approach for Double-Double (DD) laminates A cantilever scenario is examined, in which a defined vertical tip displacement is applied to a panel, whose shape is evaluated. Therefore, FE model predictions are compared with the real shape of correspondingly manufactured panels. The second ambition of the study was to validate the strain output of a novel fiber-optical sensor system (FOSS). For this purpose, fiber-optical sensors were embedded during manufacturing in the tapered DD panel. Three fiber sensors were positioned at different locations within the tapered laminate stack. They provide continuous strain information along their entire length, with a resolution of approximately 0.6 mm. The 500 mm long panel has been subjected by a 50 mm tip displacement, while strain is evaluated along the bent. The panel’s top-surface strain is additionally measured using a novel 24M GOM ARAMIS system. A comparison of the determined strain distributions from FE analysis (ABAQUS), FOSS and the optical measurement represents the core of the present article. Additional tests were executed to assess the strain data quality for different sensor-application approaches. Integrated and attached sensors are compared.