THE EFFECT OF EMBEDDED OPTICAL FIBERS ON THE FATIGUE BEHAVIOR OF COMPOSITE PLATES

Finite element (FE) techniques are used to simulate the strain and str ess concentrations in and around an optical fibre (OF) embedded in XAS /914 carbon fibre reinforced laminates. Analytical results produced sh ow the location of high stresses and therefore the position of possibl e damage when specimens are subjected to tension and flexure. Also mec hanical fatigue tests are carried out on specimens with optical fibres embedded within different orientation plies, in order to see the effe ct of the fibres on the fatigue behaviour of the specimens. Results ar e then compared with those found for a specimen without embedded optic al fibre. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reser ved.