On the processing and evaluation of pultruded smart composites

The use of the pultrusion process for the manufacture of fiber reinforced p olymer (FRP) composites with embedded fiber optic sensors are discussed. Th e specific application is the use of smart composite reinforcements for str ain monitoring in innovative bridges and structures. The Bragg Grating and Fabry Perot fiber optic sensors are successfully embedded during the pultru sion of FRP rods. The behavior of optic sensors during pultrusion was asses sed, and the effect of the embedment of optical fibers and their surface co atings on the mechanical properties of the composite was investigated. Moni toring of the output of: embedded fiber optic strain sensors during the pul trusion of composite rods may provide useful information about the formatio n of process-induced strains within the composite. To verify the operation of the optic sensors embedded in the smart pultruded tendons, mechanical te sts were conducted and the output of the fiber optic sensors was compared t o that of an extensometer during quasi-static and cyclic tensile tests. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.