Abstract: A damage detection and evaluation system utilizes optical fibers to detect and assess damage to a structure. The optical fibers are intermittently etched in a controlled manner to weaken them so they fracture when a desired load is applied to the structure. Where visual inspection of the optical fibers is used to check for damage, a reference set of optical fibers is used. Where photodetection is used and minimal connections to the structure are required, one end of the optical fiber is made reflecting so an optical connection is only made to the other end. To further simplify the connection, a single input/output optical connection to a demultiplexing/multiplexing chip mounted on or within the structure is provided. Where orthogonal grids of fibers are not possible, the invention provides interdigitated optical fibers and volume backscattering to locate the position of the first fracture along the length of the optical fiber.