Efficient large-scale multiplexing of fiber Bragg grating and fiber Fabry-Perot sensors for structural health monitoring applications

G. A Cranch; G. M. H. Flockhart; C. K. Kirkendall

doi:10.1117/12.657416

16 March 2006 Efficient large-scale multiplexing of fiber Bragg grating and fiber Fabry-Perot sensors for structural health monitoring applications

G. A Cranch, G. M. H. Flockhart, C. K. Kirkendall

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 6179, Advanced Sensor Technologies for Nondestructive Evaluation and Structural Health Monitoring II; 61790P (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.657416
Event: Nondestructive Evaluation for Health Monitoring and Diagnostics, 2006, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Fiber Bragg gratings have been demonstrated as a versatile sensor for structural health monitoring. We present an efficient and cost effective multiplexing method for fiber Bragg grating and fiber Fabry-Perot sensors based on a broadband mode-locked fiber laser source and interferometric interrogation. The broadband, pulsed laser source permits time and wavelength division multiplexing to be employed to achieve very high sensor counts. Interferometric interrogation also permits high strain resolutions over large frequency ranges to be achieved. The proposed system has the capability to interrogate several hundred fiber Bragg gratings or fiber Fabry-Perot sensors on a single fiber, whilst achieving sub-microstrain resolution over bandwidths greater than 100 kHz. Strain resolutions of 30nε /Hz^1/2 and 2 nε/Hz^1/2 are demonstrated with the fiber Bragg grating and fiber Fabry-Perot sensor respectively. The fiber Fabry-Perot sensor provides an increase in the strain resolution over the fiber Bragg grating sensor of greater than a factor of 10. The fiber Bragg gratings are low reflectivity and could be fabricated during the fiber draw process providing a cost effective method for array fabrication. This system would find applications in several health monitoring applications where large sensor counts are necessary, in particular acoustic emission.

Citation Download Citation

G. A Cranch, G. M. H. Flockhart, and C. K. Kirkendall "Efficient large-scale multiplexing of fiber Bragg grating and fiber Fabry-Perot sensors for structural health monitoring applications", Proc. SPIE 6179, Advanced Sensor Technologies for Nondestructive Evaluation and Structural Health Monitoring II, 61790P (16 March 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.657416

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