Carbon/Polymeric Composites Autoclave Cure Monitoring with Optical Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) Sensors

The manufacturing of a thermoset matrix composite part is quite complex. The curing of this kind of composites is commonly controlled by curing duration, temperature, pressure, and vacuum. On one hand, in order to produce fully cured and compacted and high quality parts, a reasoned and optimum choice must be done. On the other hand, and all the more so as regards thermoset matrix composites, the curing parameters may induce some irreversible effects on several parameters of the ensuing laminated part. For all these reasons, since numerous years, cure monitoring has been paid of a great attention. In this contribution, the reader will be first provided with a condensed survey (including more than 100 references) of the main methods developed from more than 40 years to monitor the changes occurring in a composite material during its curing. In the broad field of real-time cure monitoring, a focus on optical fibers Bragg grating (FBG) and their use for cure monitoring purposes will be made in this article. Some original results are given after a brief introduction about FBG. The selection of a sensing technique depends on the desired results. Nevertheless, the advantages and the drawback of each technique will not be discussed here. The reader will easily find detailed comments in the numerous references proposed at the end of this article. Keywords: cure cycle; cure monitoring; optical fibers Bragg grating; laminated part; in situ strains

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