AME - Optical fiber interface mechanics for embedding in structural elements
Optical fiber can be embedded into structures during their fabrication. This includes 3D-printed objects and composites. Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) enables resolving the temperature and strain at lengths along the fiber. We are studying embedding the fiber into high-temperature (metal) structures. The fiber is threaded through channels in the part which are then filled with various high-temperature adhesives (ceramic-based epoxies and solders). The objective is to understand the movement of the adhesive during curing as well as how it performs at different temperatures. This can be experimentally or simulation-driven and ideally will include both
We advance laser-based fabrication methods and apply advanced laser-based fabrication to a range of problems. The laboratory has several state-of-the-art systems which are being applied in innovative ways.