Validation of optical fibre-based SHM for composite aircraft structures using a building block approach

¹ Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels Photonics (B-PHOT), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
² Flanders Make, BP&M, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
³ Elements Materials Technology, Element Seville SL, 41300 Seville, Spain
⁴ Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), ERDD, 32009 Schimatari, Greece
⁵ FIDAMC, E-28906 Getafe, Madrid, Spain
⁶ Imperial College London (ICL), Department of Aeronautics, 2AZ London, United Kingdom

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published online: 22 September 2025

Abstract

We demonstrate a building block validation strategy for structural health monitoring (SHM) of aerospace composite structures using optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. Standard FBGs are surface-mounted for global strain monitoring, while microstructured FBGs (MOFBGs) are embedded to resolve directional and through-thickness strain. We validate this approach from coupon to fuselage scale. The sensors detect impact-induced damage, and their outputs are fused into a Global Damage Index (GDI) that quantifies structural integrity. We show that the sensor technologies and damage evaluation methods scale effectively across component size and complexity, offering a certified path toward embedded SHM in aerospace composites.