Distributed strain sensing textile using a rosette pattern fiber sensor

Optical fiber strain distribution sensors have become an excellent tool for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). However, the fiber’s fragility and the time-consuming installation process have slowed down the technology’s broad application. In this study, we embedded optical fibers with textiles, allowing a much faster installation process and the ability to design specific sensor patterns for multiaxial sensing. Specifically, the fiber attached to the textile was embedded, forming a rosette configuration. The textile was bonded to an aluminum cantilever and subjected to different loads. The strain distribution from the optic fiber was measured using an Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) instrument. The fiber sensor response was compared with Strain Gauges to determine the reliability of the fiber sensor.