Optical Fiber Sensors Enhance Structural Monitoring for H2ELIOS Tanks

Submitted on Tue, 08/26/2025 - 16:29

The H2ELIOS project has released a new study titled “Optical Sensing Technologies for Cryo Tank Composite Structural Element Analysis and Maintenance”, contributing cutting-edge safety technology to next-generation hydrogen storage.

  • What’s new? 
    The paper presents a Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) approach using optical sensors—specifically Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) and distributed optical fibers—as embedded tools to continuously monitor composite tank health under cryogenic conditions.
  • Why it matters:
    • Hydrogen resistance: No metals = no embrittlement in harsh environments
    • High-fidelity sensing: Capable of accurate temperature and strain capture even at cryogenic levels
    • Early fault detection: Speeds up identification and maintenance of potential structural faults

This innovation enhances H2ELIOS's mission of delivering safe, lightweight, and reliable liquid hydrogen storage solutions for aviation.

Explore the full publication: Open access paper on Zenodo