NEWS

Hanshin Expressway Bridge Section Monitoring Project     Epsilon Optics have delivered ruggedised sensors and a high speed switched interrogator to monitor one of the many bridges along the Hanshin Expressway. Multiple arrays have been adhered to both steel and concrete sections of the bridge providing detailed strain and vibration data for each of the spans being monitored. The scope of work included the provision of six ruggedised arrays that could be installed by non-technical personnel in a construction site environment. This was achieved by the use of steel wire armoured cabling with a total length in excess of 1 km and more than 100 composite sensor patches. The six arrays were each connected to an EA 3080-H-E 8 Channel High Speed FSI located at a central instrument cabinet. Tobishima our civil engineering partner in Japan, has provided the customer interface and remote data management for the system.

Alan Roberts Racing     Epsilon Optics is proud to become a sponsor of Alan Roberts Racing. Alan has just taken possession of the latest Beneteau Figaro 3 in preparation for the 2019 Solitaire du Figaro. Epsilon Optics is providing Real-time fibre optic strain monitoring that will be temporarily applied to critical structures on the boat to help optimise the sailing configuration and performance prior to the racing campaign. The compact low power strain measurement system is optimised for ease of deployment and removal to comply with the Racing Series rules.

Sensor Veil Array     Embedding optical fibre sensors directly into a composite structure during manufacture is a very elegant engineering solution: the sensors are well protected in the composite matrix, they add minimal weight and have been shown to have no measurable effect on the structural properties. In effect it is rather like providing the structure with its own embedded nervous system. However, despite all these advantages, there are some significant challenges associated with the successful embedment of optical sensors. These can result in high optical losses, fibre breakage and inaccurate placement of the sensors. For this reason, it usually requires the specialist skills of a technician with extensive experience in handling optical fibre. In order to avoid both the technical problems and also to avoid the need for a fibre optics specialist to install the sensors, Epsilon Optics has developed the Sensor Veil which comprises a dry (un-impregnated) veil cloth in e-glass or carbon fibre, with a fibre optic sensor array fixed to it. The optical fibre layout and sensors are all precisely located and the optical fibres brought out via a suitable cable which can be pre-connectorised. Whilst not being as robust as a surface-bonded sensor patch, the Sensor Veil is resilient enough to be installed with confidence by a suitably trained laminator. In this way the entire array which may include many sensors can be accurately positioned in the laminate stack. The Sensor Veil concept is suitable for pre-preg, wet lay-up, vacuum infusion, resin transfer moulding and similar processes. Where closed moulds are being used there will need to be provision made for the cable exit. Where a vacuum bag is used the Sensor Veil can be combined with one of our surface mounted connector housings located on the final laminates under the vacuum bag.

Pratt and Miller Racing Corvette C7.R     Epsilon Optics have provided a highspeed interrogator and customised embedded composite sensor solution to Pratt and Miller for design verification of suspension parts on the very successful Corvette C7.R race car. The embedded composite solution provided took the form of a precisely moulded composite carrier containing more than a dozen sensors, arranged in close proximity to provide high resolution strain monitoring in an area no bigger than the palm of the hand. The precise moulding and ruggedised cabling solution meant the composite patch provided very good strain transfer and capable of surviving test environment. This involved working very closely with the design team to review the FEA analysis and optimise the position and sensitivity of the sensors.

Hugo Boss Foil monitoring     Epsilon Optics has been working closely with Alex Thomson Racing to provide real-time monitoring to help verify the structural performance of the foils (or if not foils, perhaps critical structures or components), generating crucial data to feed into the next designs. This has required provision of high speed data acquisition and the installation of a number of strategically placed FBG sensors. The sensors must be compact, lightweight and sufficiently rugged to withstand the harsh environmental conditions experienced on Racing Yachts.