Characterization of both adhesion and interfacial interaction between optical fiber coating and structural adhesives

Optical fiber sensors are by now broadly accepted as an innovative and reliable device for structural health monitoring, to be used either embedded into or bonded on structures. The accuracy of the strain measurement achievable by optical fiber sensors is critically dependent on the characteristics of the bonding of the various interface layers involved in the sensor bonding/embedding (structure material and gluing agent, fiber coating and gluing agent, fiber coating and fiber core). In fact, the signal of the bonded/embedded optical fiber sensor must correspond to the strain experienced by the monitored structure, but the quality of each involved interface can affect the strain transfer. This paper faces the characterization, carried on by both mechanical tests and morphological analysis, of the strain transfer function resulting with epoxidic and vinylester gluing agent on polyimide and acrylate coated optical fibers.