A novel optical fibre strain sensor
Abstract
A novel optical fibre strain sensor is described which was designed using usual strain gauge standards with the aid of a computational model. The sensor uses strain induced chromatic modulation effects in birefringent materials which were processed using distimulus techniques. Distimulus analysis has enabled intensity insensitive measurements to be possible.
The sensor construction is of a modular form and has exhibited the necessary ruggedness for the industrial environment. The sensor has been subjected to a ramped strain of ±0.75% and exhibits a monotonic and near linear response over this range with a sensitivity of ~5 μm/m.