Structural Component

Abstract

Structural component, in particular for a vehicle body, comprising a structural element (12) and a sensor arrangement (16), wherein the sensor arrangement (16) is connected to the structural element (12) and comprises at least one optical waveguide (14).

Claims

1. Structural component, comprising a structural element and a sensor arrangement, wherein the sensor arrangement is connected to the structural element and comprises at least one optical waveguide.

2. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide is arranged in the structural element.

3. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical waveguide is arranged on a surface of the structural element.

4. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the structural element is designed as a flat element.

5. Structural component claim 1, wherein the structural element is designed as a fiber-reinforced element having a thermoplastic or thermoset matrix.

6. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the structural element comprises a woven fabric made of continuous fibers which is embedded in a thermoplastic or thermoset matrix.

7. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the structural element comprises a scrim made of continuous fibers which is embedded in a thermoplastic or thermoset matrix.

8. Structural component according to claim 5, wherein fibers of the fiber-reinforced element serve at least partially as optical waveguides of the sensor arrangement.

9. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the structural element comprises unidirectional profiles or tapes which are embedded in a thermoplastic matrix.

10. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the structural element comprises unidirectional profiles or tapes which are embedded in a duromeric matrix.

11. Structural component according to claim 1, which has at least one light-emitting element and at least one photosensitive element.

12. Structural component according to claim 11, wherein the at least one light-emitting element is a light-emitting diode.

13. Structural component according to claim 11, wherein the at least one photosensitive element is a semiconductor photo-element.

14. Structural component according to claim 1, wherein the structural component is configured to serve as underbody protection of a motor vehicle.

Description

[0029] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the structural component presented in a schematic representation.

[0030] The invention is shown schematically in the drawing using an embodiment and is described in detail below with reference to the drawing.

[0031] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a structural component which is designated as a whole by the reference sign 10. This structural component 10 comprises a flat structural element 12, which in this case consists of a continuous fiber fabric, shown in this case without a surrounding thermoplastic or thermoset matrix. However, continuous fiber scrims are also conceivable.

[0032] Optical waveguides 14, for example glass fiber cables, run in the structural element 12, which represent a sensor arrangement 16 and extend over the entire surface of the structural element 12 to be monitored and thus the structural component 10. The existing glass fibers of the structural fabric can also serve as glass fiber cables.

[0033] On the left-hand side of the structural element 12, light is introduced into the optical waveguide 14 with light-emitting elements 18. In this case, LEDs are used as light-emitting elements 18, a light-emitting element 18 being assigned to each optical waveguide 14.

[0034] On the right-hand side of the structural element 12, photosensitive or light-sensitive elements 20, in this case photoresistors, are provided which capture or detect electromagnetic radiation transmitted through the optical waveguide 14, for example light. The optical waveguides 14 are attached in such a way that in the case of an overload of the structural component 10 by an externally acting force F, an impairment of the function or even a break 22 of at least one of the optical waveguides 14 takes place. The light conduction is thus interrupted and the photosensitive element 20 affected interrupts the flow of current in a series circuit 24 of the photosensitive elements 20.

[0035] In this way, it can be recognized whether one of the optical waveguides 18 is damaged. Depending on the evaluation of the detected light, the degree of damage to the optical waveguide(s) 14 and thus to the structural component 10 can also be determined. In particular, it can also be determined in which regions the structural component 10 is impaired or damaged. This increases the sensitivity of the sensor arrangement used.

[0036] The structural component 10 presented serves to protect components and parts and is attached, for example, to the underside of a motor vehicle. For this reason, the structural component 10 presented is designed as a flat, fiber-reinforced structural component 10.