Fiber Bragg Grating Strain Rosette

In this paper a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) Strain Rosette is designed, developed and tested. Traditional FBGs measure strain in only one direction. However, in-plane strain at a point consists of two normal strains and one shear strain. Hence a FBG strain rosette needs to be designed. The sensing principle of FBGs as a strain and temperature sensor and fundamental principles of strain transformation and strain gage rosettes are discussed.FBG strain rosettes are fabricated and embedded in two materials namely, Silicon Gel RTV 146-9 and Glass Fiber Composite Laminates. Experiments were conducted on the FBG strain rosette structures that were embedded in Silicon Gel (RTV 146-9). Initial findings from the experiments as well as preferred embedding material are presented.