Air Force Astronautics Laboratory Smart Structures And Skins Program Overview

Douglas W. DeHart

doi:10.1117/12.963081

5 February 1990 Air Force Astronautics Laboratory Smart Structures And Skins Program Overview

Douglas W. DeHart

Proceedings Volume 1170, Fiber Optic Smart Structures and Skins II; (1990) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.963081
Event: OE/FIBERS '89, 1989, Boston, United States

Abstract

Future United States Air Force (USAF) and National Air and Space Administration (NASA) space systems such as Space Based Radar (SBR), Space Based Laser (SBL), and Space Station will incorporate smart structures/skins as part of their active vibration control system to sense, evaluate, and damp out any natural and spurious vibrations and health monitoring system to sense any degradation to the structure. The concept called smart structures/skins is identified as one of the Project Forecast II technology areas. A smart structure/skin is defined as the embedment of sensors, actuators, and microprocessors in the material which forms the structure. One particular sensor that is being studied in depth is fiber optic. Fiber optics are lightweight, immune to electromagnetic interference, and are easily embeddable into composite material. The Astronautics Laboratory (AL) is committed to develop and incorporate this technology into future space systems. This paper describes the current and future activities, both in-house and contractual at AL, in the area of smart structures/skins with emphasis placed on the role of fiber optics. Items to be discussed include, types of sensor and actuator systems, areas that future research and development need to address, and plans to incorporate smart structures/skins into future space systems.

Citation Download Citation

Douglas W. DeHart "Air Force Astronautics Laboratory Smart Structures And Skins Program Overview", Proc. SPIE 1170, Fiber Optic Smart Structures and Skins II, (5 February 1990); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.963081

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

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.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available