Residual Stresses Characterization of Laminated Composites Curing by FEM and FBG Sensor

Abstract

The residual stresses and developed mechanisms of residual stresses during manufactured thermoset composites were considered. The relative importance of the different mechanisms was analyzed. The residual stresses were determined by linear viscoelastic model and measured by the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor. The theoretical results and experimental measurement were agreed well. It was found that the viscoelasticity of composite laminates should be considered when residual stresses were calculated during composite curing. FBG strain sensor could be used to measure the residual stresses and was reliable.