Fiber Optic Sensor Egress Ruggedization in Woven Structures
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Fiber optic sensors integrated into flexible woven structures are prone to damage at the egress and ingress points, leading to measurement corruption or failure due to stress concentration and sharp bends.
Innovation Solution
Embedding fiber optic sensors in woven structures and securing them with reinforcement patches and stitching to protect the egress and ingress points, using protective conduits and reinforcement patches to prevent damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fiber optic sensors are integrated into flexible woven structures, then structural health monitoring capability is improved, but the sensor becomes susceptible to damage at egress/ingress points due to stress concentration and sharp bends
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-securing the fiber optic sensor to the woven structure using stitching and reinforcement patches at the egress/ingress points before damage can occur. The sensor is fastened to the front surface and reinforcement patches are attached to cover and protect the vulnerable egress/ingress locations, preventing stress concentration and sharp bends before they can damage the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reinforcement patches as intermediary elements between the fiber optic sensor and the external environment. These patches act as mediators that distribute mechanical stresses and prevent direct contact between the vulnerable sensor egress/ingress points and damaging external forces, thereby protecting the sensor without compromising its monitoring function.
2Strength
If the fiber optic sensor is secured to the woven structure at egress points, then sensor protection is improved, but the complexity of the structure increases due to additional stitching and reinforcement patches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating protection measures specifically at the vulnerable egress/ingress points rather than uniformly across the entire sensor length. Reinforcement patches and additional stitching are applied only where stress concentration and sharp bends are most likely to occur, providing targeted protection while minimizing overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus comprises a flexible woven structure including an egress and/or ingress location at an external surface of the flexible woven structure. A fiber optic sensor is embedded in the flexible woven structure to allow the fiber optic sensor to detect one or more of strain, temperature, vibration, acoustics, 3-dimensional shape and/or pressure on the flexible woven structure. The fiber optic sensor extends out of the flexible woven structure at the egress and/or ingress location for connection to a connector or a termination. First thread stitches fasten the fiber optic sensor and any protective coatings, tubing, or conduit to the external surface of the flexible woven structure near the egress and/or ingress location. An optional reinforcement patch may cover the egress and/or ingress location and a portion of fiber optic sensor that extends out of the flexible woven structure at the egress and/or ingress location. Second thread stitches fasten the reinforcement patch to the external surface of the flexible woven structure to protect the fiber optic sensor and reduce bending and stress at the egress/ingress location.