Nano Photonic Sensors for Microdamage Detection: An Exploratory Simulation

Abstract

Nano photonic materials are synthetically manufactured crystals at the nano scale with the target of creating a microstructure with a special electro-magnetic periodicity. Such nano photonic materials have the ability to control light propagation and thus are capable of creating photonic bandgaps in the frequency domain. We propose using nano photonic crystals as sensors to detect microdamage in composite materials. We demonstrate using a simulation model that a nano photonic sensor attached to a composite bar will experience a significant change in its bandgap profile when damage is induced in the composite bar. The model predicts the frequency response of the nano photonic sensor using the transfer matrix method. A damage metric to evaluate the change in the frequency response is developed. Successful developments of nano photonic sensors will allow damage identification at scales not attainable using current sensing technologies.

Nanophotonics

“…Simulation models predict that a nanophotonic sensor attached to a composite bar experiences a significant change in its bandgap profile when damage is induced in the composite bar [73]. The sensor could be a PhC or a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber.…”

Simulating Photonic Band Gaps in Crystals

“…We can use the NPC to quantify damage in the composite bar by monitoring the NPC's optical response before and after damage is induced in the bar. The simulation resulted in a theoretically verified damage metric (Nano Spectrum Index) that can be extracted from the frequency domain response of the NPC sensor, as seen in figure 6 (8). The simulation will hopefully lead to the development of NPC sensors that will allow for damage detection at nano scales, which is currently unattainable with contemporary sensors.…”

“…A slight change in the NPC's surroundings (damage in the composite bar) will result in a change in the crystal's dimensions. As the crystal's dimensions change, so do its optical properties (8). We can use the NPC to quantify damage in the composite bar by monitoring the NPC's optical response before and after damage is induced in the bar.…”

“…An exploratory simulation was done to explore the use of nano photonic sensors for micro-damage detection (8). El-Kady and Reha Taha demonstrated a simulation model that is comprised of a nano photonic sensor (NPC) attached to a composite bar.…”

“…Concentrated stress or electric fields at the crack tip induce local switching that can shield or promote crack growth. Crack growth is affected by electrical conditions at crack faces, by the grain size, and by the porosity of the material 8 . Many fatigue mechanisms may depend on frequency as well as the amplitude of the applied electric field.…”