Prediction of the reflected spectra from chirped fibre Bragg gratings embedded within cracked crossply laminates

Matrix cracking damage is a generic type of damage that develops under load in the off-axis plies of laminated composites and is generally the precursor of more serious damage mechanisms, particularly delamination. Hence, it is important to identify and if possible locate this type of damage. Chirped fibre Bragg grating sensors have been embedded in a transparent glass fibre reinforced plastic crossply laminate and changes to the reflected spectra as a consequence of crack development have been studied. An approximately sinusoidal variation of the intensity of the reflected spectrum occurs at the position of the crack, enabling both crack development and crack position to be identified. A simulation of a reflected spectrum, incorporating a stress transfer model to predict the strains and an optical model to predict the reflected spectrum, is in reasonable agreement with the experimental results.