Studies of hygrothermal degradation of a single fiber composite: An iterative approach with embedded optical sensors and numerical analysis

The hydrothermal ageing of glass/epoxy interface is investigated using an experimental–numerical approach on cylindrical epoxy specimens with centrally located optical fibers. A 24 mm long Bragg grating sensor is inscribed on the optical fiber and used to monitor strains along the fiber, due to processing and subsequent ageing in water at 50 °C. The distributed strains are used to: (a) evaluate the residual strain field developed during...