Dynamic strain measurement using two wavelength-matched fiber Bragg grating sensors interrogated by a cascaded long-period fiber grating

In this work, we describe a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing system using two wavelength-matched FBG sensors for static and dynamic strain measurement. A cascaded long-period fiber grating (CLPG)-based demodulation technique has been used to interrogate the two wavelength-matched FBG sensors. Experimental results of static strain measurement show that the proposed system has a strain resolution of 1 με. This system has also been used for dynamic strain measurement. An eddy current displacement meter-based system has been used as a comparison measurement. Experimental results of dynamic strain measurement have proved that the FBG sensing system has a good performance in the measurement of dynamic strain. The results of static and dynamic strain measurement indicate that the sensing system using two wavelength-matched FBG sensors is superior to the single FBG sensor system.     

Novel tunable fiber-optic edge filter based on modulating the chirp rate of a π-phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating in transmission

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel fiber-optic edge filter based on modulating the chirp rate of a π-phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating (FBG) operating in transmission mode. The phase shift induced passband in the transmission spectrum is utilized as the edge filter. The dependence of the π-phase-shifted FBG’s transmitted spectral response on the chirp rate has been numerically studied in detail and experimentally confirmed, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time. The linear wavelength range of the proposed edge filter can be tuned by changing the chirp rate of FBG. The edge filter is further tested as a wavelength interrogator, and the experimental results are in good agreement with numerical results. The proposed fiber-optic edge filter has several unique advantages which include simple structure, cost effectiveness, high sensitivity, flexible tunability, and optical circulator is not required, and thus has interesting potential applications, especially as a wavelength interrogator in FBG foot sensors, FBG ultrasound and vibration sensors, and FBG distributed sensors, where the required wavelength ranges are very small (<0.4 nm).     

Reliability of fiber Bragg grating sensors embedded in textile composites

The reliability of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors embedded in textile composites with both dual-end and single-end is studied in this paper. The effects of debonding of the interfaces of the fiber/coating and coating/resin on the reliability are considered. Measurement error induced by the deviation of the location of sensors after embedding into a composite has been analyzed for the three-point bending experiments. The analysis indicates that the determination of the precise location of FBG sensors would be a key problem when the sensors are embedded in a large gradient strain field. The experimental results show that the debonding at the interfaces has great effect on the reliability of single-ended FBG sensors and little effect on that of dual-ended sensors. It is suggested that FBG sensors be calibrated before they are imbedded into composite, which will help to improve the precision of the measurement and avoid damage to sensors to ensure the sensor's strength while the composite is under loading.     

基于掺铒光纤/喇曼混合放大的光纤激光器布喇格光栅传感系统

提出了一种提高长距离光纤布喇格光栅信噪比以进行准分布测量的新方法.该方法基于掺铒光纤/喇曼混合放大的光纤激光器结构,掺铒光纤和滤波器构成的环形结构产生激光作为光源,喇曼光纤放大器对布喇格光栅信号进行低噪音的双向放大,置于远处的掺铒光纤利用剩余的泵浦功率产生自发辐射光和放大传感信号,为远处掺铒光纤之后的布喇格光栅传感器提供信号光以及补偿由于长距离传输造成的光纤损耗.实验显示,与使用宽带光源的传感方式相比,系统的性能得到显著提高,仅使用小功率泵浦,分布在50 km光纤上的FBG均获得了超过58 dB的优良信噪比.     

岩层变形检测的光纤光栅多点传感理论与工程应用

为了监测松散地层沉降变形,提出了一种用于钻孔中植入式光纤Bragg光栅传感器(FBG)的结构和传感网络系统.基于室内实验结果,给出了用于岩层变形检测的传感光栅波长带宽为6 nm,分析了多点传感信号分辨因子,山光源带宽决定的测试系统最大实际复用能力为6个传感器.设计并实现了一个由18个光纤光栅组成的具有特色的光纤Bragg光栅波分复用/空分复用混合阵列.工程实践表明,光纤光栅传感系统采用双同路布置.可提高系统下放后光纤光栅传感器的成活率.     

基于信号自相关原理的光纤光栅数字解调方法

为满足工程测试领域对光纤光栅波长漂移高分辨探测技术的需要,提出一种基于信号自相关原理的新型光纤光栅数字解调技术.该技术在可调谐滤波法的基础上,通过对信号序列采用自相关分析以实现对波长漂移的测量以及对传感光栅反射谱形状的识别,能够有效克服噪音对信号的影响.仿真结果表明：光纤光栅自相关数字解调方法可以准确测量光纤光栅波长的漂移,适用于传感光栅具有相同波长的变化范围.     

基于喇曼/掺铒光纤混合放大的长距离布喇格光栅传感器系统

提出了一种提高长距离光纤布喇格光栅信噪比以进行准分布测量的新方法.本方法基于双向喇曼放大和双掺铒光纤结构,喇曼光纤放大器对布喇格光栅信号进行低噪音的双向放大,置于远处的掺铒光纤利用剩余的泵浦功率产生自发辐射光和放大传感信号,为第二段掺铒光纤之后的远处布喇格光栅传感器提供光以及补偿由于长距离传输造成的光纤损耗.实验显示传感器系统的性能得到显著提高.使用功率为240 mW的单个普通泵浦,分布在50 km光纤上的FBG均可获得15 dB的良好信噪比,比混合放大前提高了10 dB.     

Recent progress in applications of in-fibre Bragg grating sensors

In-fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor technology has become one of the most rapidly progressing sensing topics of this decade in the field of optical fibre sensors. FBG sensors are currently emerging from the laboratory to find practical applications. Rapid progress has been made in both sensor system developments and applications in recent years. This article presents a systematic review of recent progress in applications of FBG sensors in large composite and concrete structures, the electrical power industry, medicine, and chemical sensing.     

优化光纤光栅传感器匹配光栅解调方法的研究

利用悬臂梁调谐和两个并联二次反射匹配解调光栅的方法实现了光纤布喇格光栅(FBG)传感器的高精度大范围应变传感测量.通过并联方式,选择合适的匹配光栅波长,增大了可检测的应变范围,同时解决了双值问题.应变传感信号经两路解调光栅解调,并由数据采集卡采集后,由计算机进行两路并联信号的综合处理后获取更准确的结果,使得系统性能得到提升和优化.试验结果与理论分析一致.     

Genetic algorithm-support vector regression for high reliability SHM system based on FBG sensor network

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor network has attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, FBG sensor network is embedded or glued in the structure simply with series or parallel. In this case, if optic fiber sensors or fiber nodes fail, the fiber sensors cannot be sensed behind the failure point. Therefore, for improving the survivability of the FBG-based sensor system in the SHM, it is necessary to build high reliability FBG sensor network for the SHM engineering application. In this study, a model reconstruction soft computing recognition algorithm based on genetic algorithm-support vector regression (GA-SVR) is proposed to achieve the reliability of the FBG-based sensor system. Furthermore, an 8-point FBG sensor system is experimented in an aircraft wing box. The external loading damage position prediction is an important subject for SHM system; as an example, different failure modes are selected to demonstrate the SHM system's survivability of the FBG-based sensor network. Simultaneously, the results are compared with the non-reconstruct model based on GA-SVR in each failure mode. Results show that the proposed model reconstruction algorithm based on GA-SVR can still keep the predicting precision when partial sensors failure in the SHM system; thus a highly reliable sensor network for the SHM system is facilitated without introducing extra component and noise.     

Diametric load sensor using a fiber Bragg grating and its differential group delay analysis

Different from the basic sensing theory of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors based on spectral analysis, a new method exploiting the polarization properties of FBG for diametric load sensing is proposed. In this paper, the evolution of the differential group delay (DGD) response of FBG with respect to the diametric load is completely studied. The centroid information of the DGD evolution of FBG is subsequently proposed for diametric load sensing. Experiments were carried out to verify the reasonability and feasibility of the sensing method. Good agreements between experimental results and numerical simulations had been obtained.     

Interrogation technique for a fiber Bragg grating sensing array based on a Sagnac interferometer and an acousto-optic modulator

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a novel real-time interrogation technique for a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensing system that is based on a frequency-shifted asymmetric Sagnac interferometer. FBG sensors are connected to the Sagnac loop by an optical coupler, and an acousto-optic modulator (AOM) is asymmetrically placed in the Sagnac loop. By linearly sweeping the driving frequency of the AOM, the environmental variation around each FBG sensor can be determined by measuring the spectrum of the interference signals of the two counterpropagating light beams reflected by the corresponding FBG. The system has the advantages of low cost and real-time sensing.     

Interrogating fiber Bragg grating sensors by thermally scanning a demultiplexer based on arrayed waveguide gratings

We evaluate a wavelength interrogation technique based on an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). Initial results show that the Bragg wavelength of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors can be precisely interrogated by thermally scanning an AWG-based demultiplexer. The technique potentially offers a low-cost, compact, and high-performance solution for the interrogation of FBG distributed sensors and multisensor arrays.     

Parallel demodulation system and signal-processing method for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer and fiber Bragg grating sensors

A parallel demodulation system for extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) and fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors is presented that is based on a Michelson interferometer and combines the methods of low-coherence interference and Fourier transform spectrum. Signals from EFPI and FBG sensors are obtained simultaneously by scanning one arm of a Michelson interferometer, and an algorithm model is established to process the signals and retrieve both the wavelength of the FBG and the cavity length of the EFPI at the same time, which are then used to determine the strain and temperature.     

Temperature-insensitive transverse load sensing with improved accuracy using stress induced birefringence effects of fiber Bragg grating

Different from the basic sensing theory of the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors based on direct spectral analysis, a new method exploiting the polarization properties of FBG for temperature-insensitive transverse load sensing is proposed. In this paper, the birefringence effects on FBG under transverse load are analyzed. The evolution of the polarization dependent loss (PDL) of FBG with wavelength for the transmitted signals with respect to the transverse load is also studied theoretically and experimentally. We proposed utilizing the PDL evolution of FBG to precisely recover the wavelength spacing between the two peaks of x-mode and y-mode for accurate transverse load measurement. Good agreements between experimental results and numerical simulations had been obtained.     

Plasmon resonance microsensor for droplet analysis

Microscale fiber tip sensors based on the plasmon resonance are reported. The fabrication process derived from our previous approach for manufacturing near-field scanning optical microscopy probes has been optimized for sensing applications. A typical tip sensor is a tapered fiber 400 microm in length, coated with a nanoporous thin silver film. The miniaturized geometry of the sensor allows detection in a single droplet of liquid solution (approximately 20 microl). The tip sensor is sensitive for refractive indices between 1.33 and 1.40 with a sensitivity of at least 3 x 10(-4) refractive index unit (RIU)/nm. The Raman scattering enhancement through these microsensors demonstrates the important role played by the localized plasmon resonance. The sensors' linear response covers a large region, interesting for biosensing in aqueous environments such as biomedical applications.     

A novel fiber Bragg grating interrogating sensor system based on AWG demultiplexing

A fiber Bragg grating (FBG) interrogating technique based on the relative intensity-demodulating and the demultiplexing of an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) is presented in this paper. The analytical simulation and the experiment validate the feasibility of this setup. Both theoretical and experiment results show that the shift of the Bragg wavelength of the FBG sensors can be precisely interrogated by the relative intensity reading of two-adjacent-channels of the AWG-based demultiplexer. Errors caused by the light source fluctuation and micro-band losses can be reduced with the relative technique. This technique potentially offers a low-cost, compact, and high-performance solution for the interrogation of FBG distributed sensors.     

Spectrum-profile-identification-based wavelength division multiplexing method for a fiber Bragg grating sensor

A new wavelength division multiplexing method for fiber Bragg grating(FBG) sensors based on spectrum profile identification is proposed. In this method, FBGs and tilted FBG(TFBG) sensors are cascaded in a single fiber in one sensing channel. The different spectrum profiles enable the cross-correlation method to demodulate the wavelength. Therefore, the different types of sensors can occupy the same central wavelength band. Using this method, the multiplexing capacity is optimized. Experiment results demonstrate the feasibility of this method and it is useful for applications where large numbers of FBGs are needed.     

Fiber-fault monitoring technique for passive optical networks based on fiber Bragg gratings and semiconductor optical amplifier

A novel monitoring method for in-service fault indemnification in passive optical networks (PONs) is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The proposed monitoring technique is based on fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors and fiber laser scheme, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) is used to serve as a gain medium. By detecting the number of the wavelength lasing, the fiber-fault can be monitored without affecting the in-service channels. Moreover, the strain behavior on the FBGs has also been discussed.     

光纤光栅与受激布里渊信号的耦合特性

近年来,光纤布拉格光栅传感器与全分布式光纤传感器的融合技术受到了广泛关注,然而光纤布拉格光栅与布里渊信号之间的耦合特性鲜有报道。本文研究了光栅类型、波长、反射率及光纤的光致折射率对受激布里渊信号的影响规律,并探讨了空间分辨率对光纤布拉格光栅定位功能的影响。实验结果表明,在布里渊光时域分析系统中,光纤布拉格光栅处有尖锐的反射峰,而啁啾光栅、长周期光栅及光致折射率变化的光纤处均未出现尖锐的反射峰;光纤布拉格光栅反射率与受激布里渊散射功率谱无关;当光纤布拉格光栅的波长接近1 550 nm时,对受激布里渊频移测量的影响最大;在8 m的长度范围内,光纤布拉格光栅的定位误差约为4 cm,并且与空间分辨率无关。