Smart metal having integrated high temperature sensing capability is reported. The SS316 structure is made by additive layer manufacturing via selective laser melting (SLM). Sensor component is embedded in to the structure during the SLM build process. The strain isolated in-fiber Fabry-Perot cavity sensor measures temperature up to 1100 °C inside the metal.
Metal clad single mode optical fibres containing Fibre Bragg Gratings are embedded in stainless steel components using bespoke laser based Selective Laser Melting technology (SLM). Significant residual stresses can be created in SLM manufactured components through the strong thermal gradients during the build process. We demonstrate the ability to monitor these internal stresses through embedded optical fibres with FBGs on a layer to layer basis, confirming estimates from models for residual stresses in additive manufactured components.
Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors are embedded into Stainless Steel (SS) 316 components using bespoke Selective Laser Melting (SLM) technology. SS 316 material is added on substrates by SLM, incorporating U-shaped grooves with dimensions suitable to hold nickel coated optical fibers. Coated optical fibers containing fiber Bragg gratings for strain monitoring are placed in the groove. Melting subsequent powder layer on top of the fiber completes the embedding. Strain levels exceeding 3 mε are applied to specimens and are measured by embedded fiber optic sensors. Elastic deformation of the steel component is reliably measured by the Bragg grating from within the component with high accuracy. During plastic deformation of the steel the optical fiber is slipping due to poor adhesive bonding between fused silica and metal surround.
Metal clad single mode optical fibres containing high reflectivity Bragg gratings are successfully embedded into stainless steel components using bespoke laser based additive manufacturing technology. Temperature cycling of the embedded sensor demonstrates the ability of gratings to survive the embedding process, and act as temperature or strain sensors. At extreme temperatures up to 500 °C, discontinuities in the gratings response are observed and these have been attributed to possible delamination issues at the interface between glass fiber and the surrounding metal.
Additive manufacturing or 3D printing of structural components in metals has potential to revolutionise the manufacturing industry. Embedded sensing in such structures opens a route towards SMART metals, providing added functionality, intelligence and enhanced performance in many components. Such embedded sensors would be capable of operating at extremely high temperatures by utilizing regenerated fibre Bragg gratings and in-fibre Fabry-Perot cavities.
Metal clad single mode optical fibres are successfully embedded into stainless steel using a layer by layer based additive manufacturing technology based on selective laser sintering of powered stainless steel material. The single mode fibre has been coated with a protective Ni metal layer to facilitate thermal protection and bonding to the stainless steel matrix. A loss of ~1 dB is observed after embedding which is attributed to micro bending in the embedded section.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.