Micromechanical approach to model the effects of thermomechanical fields on optical fibers embedded in a laminated composite plate

A coupled micro-mechanical approach is employed to model an optical fiber in a reinforced composite. As a result, the opto- thermo-mechanical behavior of the optical fiber is determined in such a way that the phase-strain relationship is based on the micromechanical behavior of the host media. The microstructures of the carbon fiber reinforced composite and the optical fiber inclusion are analyzed, and their mutual influence on the performance of the entire composite structure is estimated. Different cases of laminated composite plates subjected to several cases of external loadings and temperature fields are studied. In-plane strains at the optical fiber, as well as optical phase changes are presented.