Shigeki Yashiro

Detection of transverse cracks in CFRP composites using embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors

In the present research, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors were applied for the detection of transverse cracks, which cause strain distribution within the gage length, in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) cross-ply laminates. An uncoated FBG sensor was embedded in 0° ply on the border of 90° ply in a CFRP cross-ply laminate. The reflection spectra from the FBG sensor were measured at various tensile stresses. As a result, the reflection spectrum became broad and had some peaks with an increase of the transverse crack density in the 90° ply. After the crack density was saturated, the spectrum became narrow and had one large peak again. In order to confirm that the change in the spectrum was caused by transverse cracks, the spectra were calculated theoretically. The calculated result reproduced the change in the measured spectrum very well. These results show that the occurrence of transverse cracks can be detected from the change in the form of the reflection spectrum, and that the spectrum width at the half maximum is a good indicator for the quantitative evaluation of the transverse crack density in real time.

Effect of thermal residual stress on the reflection spectrum from fiber Bragg grating sensors embedded in CFRP laminates

When FBG sensors are embedded in CFRP laminates, the reflection spectrum from the FBG sensors splits into two peaks because of the non-axisymmetric thermal residual stress. This deformation of the spectrum will lead to misreading in strain measurements or crack detection in the laminates. In the present research, three types of FBG sensors: uncoated normal, polyimide-coated normal, and polyimide-coated small-diameter FBG sensors, were embedded in CFRP cross-ply laminates, and reflection spectra from the sensors were measured during the fabrication process of the laminates. Through the comparison of results obtained for the three FBG sensors, it was found that the effect of thermal residual stress on the reflection spectrum could be decreased when the optical fiber was coated with polyimide and its diameter was small in the present laminate configuration and embedment position. Furthermore, these changes of the spectra during the curing process could be simulated by theoretical calculation considering the birefringence effect.

Detection of microscopic damages in composite laminates

Abstract Small-diameter fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors, of outside diameter 52 μm, have been developed by the authors and Hitachi Cable Ltd. for embedding inside a laminate without deterioration of the mechanical properties of the composite laminate. In this research, the small-diameter FBG sensor was embedded in the 0° ply of a CFRP cross-ply laminate for the detection of transverse cracks in the 90° ply. The reflection spectra from the FBG sensor were obtained at various tensile stresses. As a result of damage, the spectrum became broad and had some peaks with increase in the transverse crack density. Furthermore, theoretical calculation reproduced the change in the spectrum very well. These results show that small-diameter FBG sensors have the potential to detect the occurrence of transverse cracks through the change in the form of the spectrum, and to evaluate the transverse crack density quantitatively by the spectrum width.

A Numerical Approach for Injection Molding of Short-Fiber-Reinforced Plastics Using a Particle Method

This study proposes a numerical approach for predicting the injection molding process of short-fiber-reinforced plastics using the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method, which is a particle-simulation method. Unlike conventional methods using orientation tensors, this approach represents all fibers and resin as an assembly of particles, and automatically analyzes the interaction between fiber and resin and between fibers. In addition, this method can follow the motion of a specific fiber, which is a significant advantage over orientation tensors. This study simulated the injection molding of short-fiber-reinforced plastics; the thermoplastic resin was considered as an incompressible viscous fluid and the fibers were modeled as rigid bodies. The numerical result illustrated that the molding material was unidirectionally reinforced by short fibers since the fibers rotated and were aligned parallel to the flow direction due to the velocity gradient near the wall boundary. Moreover, the stagnation of resin at a corner was predicted. The results agreed well with previous studies, and the present approach was confirmed. Beyond this, we predicted the accumulation of fibers near the wall due to the velocity gradient, which could not be represented by conventional simulations based on orientation tensors.

Numerical study for identifying damage in open-hole composites with embedded FBG sensors and its application to experiment results

This study proposes two new approaches for identifying damage patterns in a holed CFRP cross-ply laminate using an embedded fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor. It was experimentally confirmed that the reflection spectrum from the embedded FBG sensor was significantly deformed as the damage near the hole (i.e. splits, transverse cracks and delamination) extended. The damage patterns were predicted using forward analysis (a damage analysis and an optical analysis) with strain estimation and the proposed damage-identification method as well as the forward analysis only. Forward analysis with strain estimation provided the most accurate damage-pattern estimation and the highest computational efficiency. Furthermore, the proposed damage identification significantly reduced computation time with the equivalent accuracy compared to the conventional identification procedure, by using damage analysis as the initial estimation.

Characterization of tensile damage progress in stitched CFRP laminates

This study experimentally and numerically investigated the tensile damage progress in stitched laminates. In particular, it focused on the effects of stitching on the damage progress. First, we experimentally confirmed that ply cracks and delamination appeared under load regardless of stitching. We then performed damage-extension simulation for stitched laminates using a layer-wise finite element model with stitch threads as beam elements, in which the damage (ply cracks and delamination) was represented by cohesive elements. A detailed comparison between observation and the simulated results confirmed that stitching had little effect on the onset and accumulation of ply cracks. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the stitch threads significantly suppressed the extension of the delamination.

Application of small-diameter FBG sensors for detection of damages in composites

Small-diameter fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have been developed by Hitachi Cable Ltd. and the authors. Since the outside diameter of polyimide coating is 52 micrometers , embedding of the sensors into carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites prepregs of 125 micrometers in thickness does not deteriorate the mechanical properties of the composite laminates. In this research, the small-diameter FBG sensor was applied for the detection of transverse cracks in CFRP composites. The FBG sensor was embedded in 0 degree(s) ply of a CFRP cross-ply laminate.

Detection of transverse cracks in composites by using embedded FBG sensors

In the present research, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors were applied for the detection of transverse cracks, which cause strain distribution within the gage length, in carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) cross-ply laminates. An uncoated FBG sensor was embedded in 0° ply on the border of 90° ply in a CFRP cross-ply laminate. The reflection spectra from the FBG sensor were measured at various tensile stresses. As a result, the reflection spectrum became broad and had some peaks with increase of the transverse crack density in the 90° ply. After the crack density was saturated, the spectrum became narrow and had one large peak again. For confirming that the change in the spectrum form was caused by transverse cracks, the spectra were calculated theoretically. The calculated result reproduced the change in the measured spectrum form very well. These results show that the occurrence of transverse cracks can be detected from the change in the form of the reflection spectrum, and the spectrum width at the half-maximum is a good indicator for the quantitative evaluation of the transverse crack density on real-time.

A monitoring technique for disbond area in carbon fiber–reinforced polymer bonded joints using embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors: Development and experimental validation

This study evaluated fatigue-induced disbond areas in carbon fiber–reinforced polymer double-lap joints using embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors. When the disbond grew by cyclic loading, the embedded fiber Bragg grating sensors yielded reflection spectra having two peaks representing a step-like strain distribution generated by the disbond; the peak at the shorter wavelength corresponded to the unloaded disbond region. The ratio of the peak intensity at the shorter wavelength to that at the longer wavelength increased gradually with increasing disbond length. The relationship between the peak intensity ratio and the disbond length was analyzed by coupled structural–optical analysis and was validated by comparing analytical peak intensity ratio with the experiment results. The disbond length was then estimated from the measured spectra based on this analytical calibration relationship, but the estimated disbond area exceeded that observed using the ultrasonic C-scan technique. Additional experiments including destructive observation of the adhesive suggested that an embedded fiber Bragg grating sensor could detect a moving disbond tip earlier than conventional nondestructive techniques.

Application of particle simulation methods to composite materials: a review

Particle simulation methods represent deformation of an object by motion of particles, and their Lagrangian and discrete nature is suitable for explicit modeling of the microstructure of composite materials. They also facilitate handling of large deformation, separation, contact, and coalescence. Mesh-free particle methods will thus be appropriate for a part of issues throughout the lifecycle of composite materials despite their high calculation cost. This study focuses on three particle simulation methods, namely, smoothed particle hydrodynamics, moving particle semi-implicit method, and discrete element method, and reviews approaches for modeling composite materials through these methods. Applicability of each method as well as advantages and drawbacks will be discussed from the viewpoint of engineering of composite materials. This reviewing study suggests capability of particle simulation methods to handle multiphysics and to predict various complex phenomena that necessitate explicit modeling of the material’s microstructure consisting of reinforcements (inclusions), matrix, and voids.