Monitoring of composite pressure vessels using surface-applied distributed fibre optic sensors

In this paper, we report on surface-applied distributed fibre optic sensors for monitoring composite pressure vessels designed for hydrogen storage. Previous reports have revealed that integrating optical fibres within vessel composite structures effectively enables the monitoring of structural behavior throughout their lifetime. However, integrating optical fibres during the manufacturing process is complex and time-consuming. Therefore, we aim to simplify this process by attaching the optical fibres to the vessel’s surface. This method is significantly more time-efficient than the integration process and can be applied to any vessel. Our results demonstrate that surface-applied fibre optic sensors can detect and precisely localise damage. Additionally, signs of damage can be recognised even before the damage occurs. Predictive maintenance using fibre optic sensors could reduce premature maintenance costs and periodic inspections while increasing safety and extending the vessel’s useful service life. The role of machine learningin predictive maintenance is also discussed.