FBG sensor array-based-low speed impact localization system on composite plate

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors-based impact localization system on composite structure and a novel localization algorithm independent of wave velocity were proposed. Six FBG sensors constitute two isosceles right triangle FBG arrays. Impact signals were detected by a high-speed FBG interrogation system. Morlet wavelet transform was employed to extract time differences of impact signals. The straight lines equations, which are through impact source and FBG sensors of right-angled vertices of FBG arrays, can be obtained by the time differences. The coordinate of impact source is the intersection of straight lines. Testing experiments were carried out on composite plate within 400 mm × 400 mm monitor area. The experimental results showed that the maximum and average errors were 20.92 and 8.67 mm, respectively. This article provides a simple and stable impact source localization system independent of wave velocity.