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1 – 10 of 182Optical fibre multiplexed sensors are used to make measurements at multiple, discrete locations, usually by sending optical signals between each measurement location and a…
Abstract
Optical fibre multiplexed sensors are used to make measurements at multiple, discrete locations, usually by sending optical signals between each measurement location and a conveniently positioned optical interrogation instrument. It is rapidly becoming practical to construct multiplexed optical fibre sensor arrays based on in‐fibre Bragg gratings. A Bragg grating can be produced in an optical fibre by writing a periodic variation in the refractive index of the fibre’s core along the axis, using ultra‐violet light. Multiplexing applications will appear ranging from the small scale, with only a few sensors, up to very large scales with hundreds of sensors.
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Yongxing Guo, Min Chen, Li Xiong, Xinglin Zhou and Cong Li
The purpose of this study is to present the state of the art for fiber Bragg grating (FBG) acceleration sensing technologies from two aspects: the principle of the measurement…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to present the state of the art for fiber Bragg grating (FBG) acceleration sensing technologies from two aspects: the principle of the measurement dimension and the principle of the sensing configuration. Some commercial sensors have also been introduced and future work in this field has also been discussed. This paper could provide an important reference for the research community.
Design/methodology/approach
This review is to present the state of the art for FBG acceleration sensing technologies from two aspects: the principle of the measurement dimension (one-dimension and multi-dimension) and the principle of the sensing configuration (beam type, radial vibration type, axial vibration type and other composite structures).
Findings
The current research on developing FBG acceleration sensors is mainly focused on the sensing method, the construction and design of the elastic structure and the design of a new information detection method. This paper hypothesizes that in the future, the following research trends will be strengthened: common single-mode fiber grating of the low cost and high utilization rate; high sensitivity and strength special fiber grating; multi-core fiber grating for measuring single-parameter multi-dimensional information or multi-parameter information; demodulating equipment of low cost, small volume and high sampling frequency.
Originality/value
The principle of the measurement dimension and principle of the sensing configuration for FBG acceleration sensors have been introduced, which could provide an important reference for the research community.
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Stephen J. Mihailov, Dan Grobnic, Christopher W. Smelser, Robert B. Walker, Ping Lu and Huimin Ding
The purpose of this paper is to present a review of research performed at the Communications Research Centre Canada on sensing applications of femtosecond infrared laser‐inscribed…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a review of research performed at the Communications Research Centre Canada on sensing applications of femtosecond infrared laser‐inscribed Bragg gratings.
Design/methodology/approach
By using fibre Bragg gratings induced with ultrafast infrared radiation, inscription of high temperature stable sensors in standard and exotic optical waveguides is investigated for a variety of novel applications.
Findings
Generally, femtosecond laser‐induced gratings are effective sensors that can be applied in situations and environments where most fibre optic sensors are not effective.
Originality/value
The paper is a review of existing work already published in the literature and provides an overview of this technology to the reader.
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The purpose of this paper is to compare the sensing characteristics of uniform fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) by presenting a detailed research…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to compare the sensing characteristics of uniform fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) by presenting a detailed research review. Temperature, axial strain, bending, vibration and refractive index measurands of FBG and TFBG sensor are presented and some significant differences are found.
Design/methodology/approach
Theoretical analysis and practical application in engineering are investigated and compared from other authors' research papers and self analysis. Spectra behavior of both FBG and TFBG are discussed.
Findings
There are found to be significant differences in temperature, axial strain, bending, vibration and refractive index sensing characteristics of FBG and TFBG.
Originality/value
The paper's analysis is comprehensive and clear and provides readers with the sensing characteristics of FBG and TFBG in detail.
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Wenlong Liu, Yongxing Guo, Li Xiong and Yi Kuang
The purpose of this paper is to present the latest sensing structure designs and principles of information detection of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) displacement sensors. Research…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present the latest sensing structure designs and principles of information detection of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) displacement sensors. Research advance and the future work in this field have been described, with the background that displacement and deformation measurements are universal and crucial for structural health monitoring.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes and summarizes the existing FBG displacement sensing technologies from two aspects principle of information detection (wavelength detection, spectral bandwidth detection, light intensity detection, among others) and principle of the sensing elastomer structure design (cantilever beam type, spring type, elastic ring type and other composite structures).
Findings
The current research on developing FBG displacement sensors is mainly focused on the sensing method, the construction and design of the elastic structure and the design of new information detection method. The authors hypothesize that the following research trends will be strengthened in future: temperature compensation technology for FBG displacement sensors based on wavelength detection; a study of more diverse elastic structures; and fiber gratings manufactured with special fibers will greatly improve the performance of sensors.
Originality/value
The latest sensing structure designs and principles of information detection of FBG displacement sensors have been proposed, which could provide important reference for research group.
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Jinu Paul, Zhao Liping, Bryan Ngoi and Fang Zhong Ping
Polymeric coatings and packaging are often used to enhance the temperature sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors. The high thermal expansion coefficient of the…
Abstract
Polymeric coatings and packaging are often used to enhance the temperature sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating temperature sensors. The high thermal expansion coefficient of the polymer enhances the thermal sensitivity by improving the wavelength shift due to thermal expansion. The adhesion of the polymeric coatings to the silica based optical fiber plays an important role in the wavelength response characteristics of fiber Bragg gratings with respect to temperature. Experiments are done to qualitatively analyze the influence of adhesion. Three‐dimensional finite element simulations have been carried out. Spring elements are used to interconnect the nodes of the meshed models of optical fiber and coating. The effect of adhesion is studied as a function of spring stiffness.
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Yongxing Guo, Jianjun Fu, Longqi Li and Li Xiong
Centrifugal model tests can accelerate the characterization of landslides and demonstrate the form of slope failure, which is an important measure to research its instability…
Abstract
Purpose
Centrifugal model tests can accelerate the characterization of landslides and demonstrate the form of slope failure, which is an important measure to research its instability mechanisms. Simply observing the slope landslide before and after a centrifugal model test cannot reveal the processes involved in real-time deformation. Electromagnetic sensors have severed as an existing method for real-time measurement, however, this approach has significant challenges, including poor signal quality, interference, and complex implementation and wiring schemes. This paper aims to overcome the shortcomings of the existing measurement methods.
Design/methodology/approach
This work uses the advantages of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors with their small form-factor and potential for series multiplexing in a single fiber to demonstrate a monitoring strategy for model centrifugal tests. A slope surface deformation displacement sensor, FBG anchor sensor and FBG anti-slide piling sensor have been designed. These sensors are installed in the slope models, while centrifugal acceleration tests under 100 g are carried out.
Findings
FBG sensors obtain three types of deformation information, demonstrating the feasibility and validity of this measurement strategy.
Originality/value
The experimental results provide important details about instability mechanisms of a slope, which has great significance in research on slope model monitoring techniques and slope stability.
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This paper describes a recent collaborative project involving the development of a multiplexed fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor system for structural integrity monitoring.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper describes a recent collaborative project involving the development of a multiplexed fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensor system for structural integrity monitoring.
Design/methodology/approach
The system is described and field trials on both conventional and novel composite bridges are discussed. A FBG sensor‐based structural monitoring system was developed, based on a fluorescent fibre as the optical source. It used a tuneable, fibre‐coupled, Fabry‐Perot filter, actuated by piezoelectric transducers and operated over the bandwidth of the source at up to 250 scans/second. Light from the source was filtered and reflected back from the Bragg gratings, through optical couplers, to eight photodiode detectors. These detected the resulting time‐domain spectra of the sensors in each of the serially connected sensor arrays. The system was tested at City University and then subjected to trials on the Mjosund road bridge in Norway and on West Mill bridge in Oxfordshire, UK, which is the first bridge to be fabricated from a new type of composite material.
Findings
During the Norwegian trials the system was arranged with four or five FBG sensors per channel giving a total of 32 measurement points with eight parallel channels. Twelve conventional foil strain gauges and a number of thermocouples were also installed. Different static and dynamic loads were applied over a period of 18 months and the results showed that the thermally compensated strain data obtained optically matched those from the resistive gauges to within <5 με. During the construction stage of the Oxfordshire bridge, sections of the decking and longitudinal composite support beams were instrumented with 40 FBG sensors with temperature compensation, placed at pre‐selected sites of maximum strain. These exhibited a resolution of ±5 με and an operating range of over ±2,000 με.
Originality/value
This research has shown that multiplexed, multi‐point FBG sensor systems can accurately and reliably monitor both static and dynamic strains in large structures over a range of temperatures and for extended periods of time.
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Zhongchao Qiu, Ruwang Mu, Yuzi Zhang, Yanan Li, Yuntian Teng and Li Hong
This study aims to solve the problem of temperature cross sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating in structural health monitoring, proposing a novel acceleration sensor based on strain…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to solve the problem of temperature cross sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating in structural health monitoring, proposing a novel acceleration sensor based on strain chirp effect which is insensitive to temperature.
Design/methodology/approach
A kind of M-shaped double cantilever beam structure is developed. The fiber grating is pasted in the gradient strain region of the beam, and the chirp effect is produced under the action of non-uniform stress, and then the change of acceleration is converted into the change of reflection bandwidth to demodulate and eliminate the temperature interference. Through theoretical analysis, simulation and experimental verification with rectangular beam sensor.
Findings
The results show that the sinusoidal curvature beam sensor is insensitive to the change of temperature and is more likely to produce chirp effect. The sensitivity is about 317 pm/g, and the natural frequency is 56 Hz.
Originality/value
This paper fulfils an insensitive to temperature changes sensor which has effectively solved the temperature cross-sensitivity problem in building structure health monitoring.
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Shizheng Sun, Ke Pang, Chao Liao and Jingtong Yu
The use of a force sensor to estimate the external force of manipulator not only needs to deal with the signal noise of the sensor itself but also needs to solve the coupling…
Abstract
Purpose
The use of a force sensor to estimate the external force of manipulator not only needs to deal with the signal noise of the sensor itself but also needs to solve the coupling interference of the sensor itself, especially the axial force. The purpose of this paper is to develop a three-dimensional fiber Bragg grating (FBG) wrist force sensor, which has a simple structure and reduces the coupling influence between several axes.
Design/methodology/approach
A particular separation elastic structure with four FBGs is devised for the three-axial force sensor. One FBG is suspended on the profile of central cylinder and the other three FBGs are pasted on the elastic beam surface of the over and under measuring bodies, respectively. Finite element analysis (FEA) simulation has been implemented to the strain distribution characteristics, the output characteristics of each direction and the coupling effects of the structure. Furthermore, theoretical derivation and experimental results are used to compare, which have a good consistency.
Findings
The experiment results show that the maximum repeatability error of the sensor is 6.75%, the maximum nonlinear error is 5.36%, the maximum coupling interference is 4.73% and the minimum sensitivity is 1.58 pm/N.
Originality/value
A three-dimensional force sensor based on FBG adopts a particular separation elastic structure. The sensor can reduce the coupling influence between several axes, especially the coupling interference in the z-direction is 0.
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