High-Definition Sensing Tracks Composite Part Health from Cradle to Grave
CAMX 2026: Luna Innovations’ ODiSI and Hyperion platforms measure strain and temperature at sub-millimeter resolution across composite parts, which will be demonstrated live on an instrumented composite bridge span with the Composite Applications Group.
Share
Luna Innovations (Roanoke, Va., U.S.) offers high-definition fiber optic sensing, through its ODiSI and Hyperion measurement platforms, that gives engineers a detailed picture of where stress concentrations and damage occur in composite parts and how that affects service life and performance. A single optical fiber measures strain or temperature at better than 1-mm spatial resolution over lengths up to 50 m, and can be embedded directly into a laminate or attached to the surface, providing coverage across an entire part and inside its structure from manufacturing through service.
At CAMX, Luna is partnering with the Composite Applications Group (CAG, Chattanooga, Tenn., U.S.) for a live demonstration of the technology, showing real-time strain measurements as visitors step onto an instrumented bridge span representative of a composite bridge deck installed in Morgan County, Tennessee.
Luna’s measurement platforms are used to validate finite element models against measured strain data, develop manufacturing processes and monitor the long-term structural health of in-service assets. Applications include integration into composite-overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for monitoring from production through end of life, measuring temperature during induction welding to ensure adequate resin flow and damage detection on composite panels and structural members.
According to Luna, the sensing technology has caught strain peaks and gradients that point gauges miss during structural validation, located hidden impact damage in carbon fiber panels to pinpoint its location and severity and tracked pressure vessels from filament winding through service to flag damage before in-field failure. The resulting high-definition view of material behavior helps manufacturing and quality teams reduce development risk, accelerate qualification of new materials and improve the reliability of fielded composite structures.
Related Content
-
JEC 2026 highlights: AFP-RTM integration, new vitrimer prepreg, mapping AFP data, metal coated fiber in battery cases and more
CW executive editor Ginger Gardiner discusses some of this year’s notable exhibits and new developments in composites.
-
TPI, University of Texas participate in wind blade cure optimization project
Physics-informed machine learning algorithms will be applied to simulate and optimize composite wind blade curing in an effort to advance smart composites manufacturing in industry.
-
Smartbeam develops HMS-embedded composite profiles for space
Project goals adapted filament winding to properly integrate optical and carbon fiber sensors and meet technical requirements, resulting in a verified, simplified process for smart composite structures at reduced cost.