The Photonics Communications Research Laboratory (PCRL) will participate in the 12th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring – EWSHM 2026 which will take place in Toulouse, France.
Giannis Poulopoulos will give an oral presentation titled:
“Optical Sensing for Composite Aerostructure Manufacturing and Structural Health Monitoring: A Temperature-Demonstrated, Pressure-Capable Silicon Bragg Grating Platform”
The presentation is based on the paper:
“Integrated Photonic Multisensors for Structural Health Monitoring and Manufacturing of Composite Aerospace Structures”
The presentation will take place during the session FO – Vibrations: Fiber-Optic – Vibrations monitoring, on Friday, 10 July 2026, from 08:50 to 10:10, at Guillaumet 1.
The presented work introduces a compact silicon photonic integrated circuit sensing platform for the monitoring of composite aerospace structures during both manufacturing and operation. The proposed platform combines the advantages of photonic sensing — such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, robustness in challenging environments and compatibility with existing fibre-optic sensing solutions — with the scalability and miniaturisation offered by photonic integrated circuits.
The sensing element is based on a 220 nm silicon-on-insulator platform, using corrugated waveguides that act as phase-shifted Bragg gratings. The device is optically coupled to a single-mode fibre through a micro-ball-lens interface, forming a miniature, passive sensor that operates purely with light. Experimental results demonstrate a temperature sensitivity of approximately 85 pm/°C, high linearity and reliable performance up to 180 °C, while the platform is designed to support pressure sensing and multiparameter monitoring within composite materials.
This work highlights the potential of integrated photonic sensors as compact, scalable and high-resolution solutions for Structural Health Monitoring and the manufacturing of next-generation aerospace composite structures.
The research was carried out within the framework of the EU Horizon Europe PLEIADES project, with contributions from ICCS/NTUA, Engineering Technology Solutions E.E., and CMST, Ghent University and IMEC.
Authors:
Giannis Poulopoulos, Harry Zervos, Georgios Syriopoulos, Evrydiki Kyriazi, Thenia Prousalidi, Aggelos Poulimenos, Jeroen Missinne, Geert Van Steenberge, Hercules Avramopoulos
Conference: EWSHM 2026 – 12th European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring
Session: FO – Vibrations: Fiber-Optic – Vibrations monitoring
Date & Time: Friday, 10 July 2026, 08:50–10:10
Location: Guillaumet 1
