Abstract
One of the advantages of fiber optics with respect to traditional electrical gauges is they can act both as sensors and as a pathway for signals produced by other sensors. This feature allows adoption of a simple sensor system architecture, even when arrays of many sensors are needed. In this paper, we present the development and laboratory validation of in-line multiplexing for the low-coherence interferometric SOFO standard deformation sensor. A standard SOFO, as developed, produced and commercialized by Smartec SA, employs total reflectors at the end of the measurement and the reference fibers, allowing measurement of the strain over a single field. In the solution presented, broadband Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) are employed as partial reflectors to obtain in-line multiplexing. These FBGs, presenting a 5% reflectivity in their reflection spectra, are produced using a chirped phase mask. An experiment was carried out on a 3-field sensor, to investigate effectiveness, resolution and temperature sensitivity. Outcomes show clear fringe visibility for each pair of gratings and a resolution of about 2.5 μm RMS, of the same order as the single field sensor. Issues regarding the maximum number of measurement fields on a single line and deformation range limits are discussed.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Proc. SPIE 6529, Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2007 |
Editors | Masayoshi Tomizuka, Chung-Bang Yun, Victor Giurgiutiu |
Number of pages | 12 |
Volume | 6529 PART 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 10 Apr 2007 |
Event | Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2007 - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: 19 Mar 2007 → 22 Mar 2007 |
Conference
Conference | Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2007 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | San Diego, CA |
Period | 19/03/07 → 22/03/07 |
Keywords
- FBG
- fiber optic sensors
- in-line multiplexing
- SOFO
- temperature sensitivity
- interferometers
- Fiber Bragg gratings
- fiber optics
- reflectors