Smart structures with nerves of glass

摘要: Abstract Aircraft and space platforms in the 21st century will probably be smart structures capable of sensing both their state environment. Networks optical fibres constitute an effective nervous system collecting sensory information from structurally integrated arrays fibre optic sensors associated with each structural component. It is expected that integrity these would monitored throughout life. During manufacture installation built-in check for flaws or mishandling therefore provide quality control. In operation stress thermal history constantly to warn impact damage, excessive loading onset fatigue. These intelligent damage assessment systems could make obsolete catastrophic failures sometimes plague our aircraft, trains cars today lead a revolution engineering ethics. Structurally also strain, displacement deformation required many control situations. some instances signals might counterstream along same paths actuators. case advanced aircraft real time monitoring aerodynamic load distribution combined extremely fast flight made possible distributed small actuators permit respond instantly turbulence. Another potential application shape vibration dynamic large structures.