Embedded and Surface-Mounted Fiber Bragg Grating as a Multiparameter Sensor in Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Composite Materials: A Review

Fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) composites are utilized extensively in various high-end industries. Therefore, developing a proper sensing and monitoring system is crucial to monitor the production and post-production in-service structural behaviors of composite materials. This paper provides a comprehensive literature review focusing on Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) as a multiparameter sensor in FRP composite materials. The review is mainly divided into two main themes, namely, embedded FBGs and surface-attached FBGs, followed by further sub-themes according to the application of the FBGs. Contemporary issues regarding FBGs as sensors in composite materials are also discussed. Subsequently, a comparative analysis between the embedded and surface-attached techniques from various perspectives is presented before further recommendation for the ideal embedding conditions and techniques is provided. This review is summarized with a projected view on the future of FBGs as a sensor, generally, and in composite laminates, specifically.