In-situ Performance Evaluation of Large Shape Memory Polymer Components via Distributed Optical Fibre Sensors

Shape memory polymers (SMPs) and their composites (SMPCs) can undergo large deformations, hold a temporary shape, and then recover their original shape upon exposure to a particular external stimulus. The fibre reinforced SMPCs with enhanced structural performances accelerate the breakthrough technologies for large scale engineering applications. However, the current thermomechanical and shape memory characterizations of SMPCs are limited to lab scale test specimens. This paper presents a novel technique of distributed optical fibre sensor (DOFS) embedded SMPCs to quantify the thermomechanical behaviour of large-scale SMPC applications. DOFSs offered unique advantages for spatially distributed dynamic temperature and strain measurements. The DOFS data was acquired through optical backscatter reflectometry. The proposed technique demonstrated the ability of embedded DOFSs for real-time shape memory process monitoring and in-situ material characterization. This technique will eliminate the hurdles and the challenges hindering the performance evaluation of large SMPC components.