Smart Fiber Optics Embedding in Powder-Based Materials: Numerical and Experimental Assessment

This paper discusses embedding conditions of fiber-optic sensors in powder-based materials using two different techniques, i.e., cold compaction followed by furnace sintering and spark plasma sintering. The purpose is to build haptic sensorial materials for robotics applications. The results have shown promising possibilities for the sensors to be hosted and located anywhere inside the material using a defined process that is controlled with known parameters. These host materials become completely sensorial with in-depth sensors embedding at known positions in three-dimensional directions. The numerical modeling and simulation have shown good agreement with experimental analysis. This has allowed observing the integrity of both host materials and the sensors, as well as the good adherence of the sensors in embedded material to reproduce reliably the material behavior. The numerical modeling has supported proper preparation of the experiments and later in the manufacturing process with parts having complex geometries with embedded sensors and even actuators.