Fiber Bragg grating array calibration

A fully polymer-based flexible arc-shaped three-dimensional (3D) fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array bionic tactile sensor is presented, in which both the FBG array and the encapsulation layer are made of polymers, and its application in multidirectional force identification of mechanical finger is verified. This innovative design utilizes the unique flexibility, biocompatibility, and mechanical properties of polymers to achieve excellent integration and performance consistency. The FBG array, with three FBGs inscribed in a single-mode polymer fiber using femtosecond laser micromachining, featuring progressively increasing lengths to compensate for the reflectivity degradation typically observed in conventional FBGs. The 3D arc-shaped arrangement of the FBG array endows the sensor with the ability to achieve 3D force perception, including normal stress, left shear stress, and right shear stress. By accurately measuring the wavelength shifts of the FBGs under different force stimuli, the sensor can accurately distinguish multi-directional forces. Experimental results show that the sensor has high force sensitivities to the left shear force, normal force, and right shear force with sensitivities of 4.973nm/N, 4.363nm/N, and 4.746nm/N, and measurement resolutions of 0.02N, 0.023N, and 0.021N, respectively, within a verified linear working range of 0 N to 0.8 N. Its sensitivity is as high as 17 times that of the traditional quartz optical fiber FBG sensor. our sensor can accurately measure multi-dimensional forces with very good sensitivity and significantly reduce the crosstalk caused by humidity, demonstrating very good performance. Its all-polymer design exhibits high flexibility and environmental robustness—completely eliminating crosstalk caused by humidity changes. It is expected to have potential applications in advanced robotics and intelligent tactile sensing systems.

Over the past years, Thulium (Tm) -doped fiber lasers in the 2μm region have gained a lot of interest due to many potential applications in materials processing and biophotonics. Based on the broad gain regions spanning from 1800nm to 2100nm, they offer the perfect basis to implement broadly tunable and user-friendly light sources like they are increasingly demanded in spectroscopic applications. Recently, a novel tuning mechanism based on a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array as versatile spectral filter has been reported. This concept combines unique spectral freedom for customized tuning ranges and ultrabroad bandwidths with a fiber-integrated setup in order to maintain the advantages of the waveguide geometry. In this work, we demonstrate such a dispersion tuned and pulsed fiber laser in the Tm domain around 1950nm using a modulator and a discrete FBG array to control the emission wavelength. In order to comply with the demands of potential applications in biophotonics, for the first time, this tuning concept is realized in a polarization maintaining (PM) configuration ensuring linearly polarized output. While a simple FBG array is employed containing five gratings inscribed in PM fiber, we also outline the prospect to implement FBGs fabricated in a standard single mode fiber. The emission characteristics of the system are investigated showing pulse durations down to 11ns and a good spectral signal contrast. In order to highlight the prospect for tunable high-power operation, we have also implemented an amplification stage scaling the average power to more than 25W.

For the improvement of monitoring accuracy, a vibration monitoring for aircraft wing model using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array packaged by vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) is proposed. The working principle of the vibration monitoring using FBG array has been explained, which can theoretically support the idea of this paper. VARTM has been explained in detail, which is suitable for not only the single FBG sensor but also the FBG array within a relatively large area. The calibration experiment has been performed using the FBG sensor packaged by VARTM. The strain sensitivity of the VARTM package is 1.35 pm/μϵ and the linearity is 0.9999. The vibration monitoring experiment has been carried out using FBG array packaged by VARTM. The measured rate of strain changes across the aluminum test board used to simulate the aircraft wing is 0.69 μϵ/mm and the linearity is 0.9931. The damping ratio is 0.16, which could be further used for system performance evaluation. Experimental results demonstrate that the vibration monitoring using FBG sensors packaged by VARTM can be efficiently used for the structural health monitoring. Given the validation and great performance, this method is quite promising for in-flight monitoring and holds great reference value in other similar engineering structures.

An efficient fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor integration system, which utilizes a small number of standard Telecom opto-electronics components, is presented in this paper. Wavelength-swept optical pulses were generated by driving a standard telecom DFB laser diode by high amplitude (>3 A) and short duration (300 ns) current pulses. A total laser diode's wavelength sweep in excess of 10 nm was achieved, which allows for simultaneous interrogation of several FBGs within similar wavelengths. The application of short duration wavelength-swept optical pulses also allows for time division multiplexing of small FBG arrays containing FBGs with overlapping characteristic wavelengths. When a short, wavelength-swept optical pulse is launched into the fiber containing single or multiple FBGs along its length, fractions of the launched pulse are back-reflected towards the detector. Since the launched pulse wavelength changes over the time, the reflections from the FBGs occur in the time moments that depend on the FBGs' characteristic wavelengths. Measurement of the time delay among back-reflected optical pulses is then used to determine the FBGs characteristic wavelengths. The experimental system demonstrated FBG wavelength readout resolution, which exceeded 3 pm at 1 KHz sampling rate, maximum sampling rate of over 40 KHz, and capability to readout/demultiplex over 30 FBGs located down a single optical fiber.

A quasi-distributed directional bending sensor based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) array in triangle-four core fiber (TFCF) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed sensor was composed of a single mode fiber (SMF) and a TFCF. A piece of TFCF is heated by a thermal diffusion technique (TDT) to fabricate an integrated coupler, which couples the optical power from central core into the side cores. Considering the size of the Gaussian beam and the effective power distribution on the cross section of excimer laser, we fabricated FBGs samples by a defocusing phase mask method. We fabricated some FBGs array samples in TFCF with peak wavelengths in the range from 1528 nm to 1566 nm with a step of 4 nm. The error and variance of peak wavelengths and reflectivity are also measured. Obviously, the consistency of wavelength and strength are satisfactory. The curvature, temperature, and strain responses of FBG array samples with the central core and side cores are studied. Based on the unique characteristics of the proposed sensor, cross-sensitivity of temperature, and strain can be solved by subtracting the wavelength changes of side cores from that of central core. In addition, by adding temperature compensating sensor, we analyzed the combined standard uncertainty for simultaneous measurement of curvature, temperature, and strain. The proposed sensor have high potential to monitor the deformation of the smart wing on the spot and provide information for the flight control system to evaluate the aerodynamic performance of flight conditions.

As Operators are increasingly seeing the value of in-well monitoring in optimizing production and reducing interventions, Operators are demanding greater accuracy, reliabilty and timeliness of well information above what is available today. This study explores a new method of measuring temperatures in harsh downhole environments that aims to improve on some of the limitations of conventional distributed temperature sensing (DTS). Instead of using Raman backscatter signals to infer temperature, a calibrated fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array is used to measure the temperature. Bragg gratings have previously been deployed as temperature measuring devices, usually as discrete devices individually spliced in a cable. The cable design presented in this study reduces deployment costs compared to discrete Bragg gratings, and can also scale up to 1000 gratings. Additionally, an interrogation method has been developed for measuring the wavelengths of the FBG array. Traditional swept-wavelength interrogation techniques exist to measure FBG arrays, but they are typically limited to approximately 40 gratings. Like the cable, the interrogation method scales up to 1000 gratings at 1 meter grating spacing. Numerous system performance tests were conducted in a laboratory setting and in a simulated well environment. A prototype cable was deployed in a test well alongside a standard DTS cable. The cables were exposed to temperature cycling by circulating hot and cold fluid. Measurements produced by the two cables were recorded and analyzed. The prototype cable test results demonstrated that the grating cable is capable of higher resolution temperature measurement than conventional DTS. The prototype interrogator will be able to perform the measurement in less than 10 seconds, a fraction of the measurement time required by conventional DTS interrogation. Results from other tests have demonstrated the ability to perform well with long lead-in distances without losing accuracy. With this increased range, the interrogator can be located away from the wellhead and in offshore wells, above water.

This paper presents the experimental work on distributed temperature sensing making use of Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) array sensor for possible applications in the monitoring of temperature profile in high temperature boilers. A special sensor has been designed for this purpose which consists of four FBGs (of wavelengths λB1 = 1547.28 nm, λB2 = 1555.72 nm, λB3 = 1550.84 nm, λB4 = 1545.92 nm) written in hydrogen loaded fiber in line with a spacing of 15 cm between them. All the FBGs are encapsulated inside a stainless steel tube for avoiding micro cracks using rigid probe technique. The spatial distribution of temperature profile inside a prototype boiler has been measured experimentally both in horizontal and vertical directions employing the above sensor and the results are presented.

We investigate the on-line writing identical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) arrays using the phase mask technique. Given the limitation of laser power, the energy density uniformity and the horizontal width of the writing spot cannot be further optimized. The results show that the FBG arrays obtained in the optimal process (drawing speed of 12 ± 0.15 m/min and average tension of 38.2 g) have a central wavelength bandwidth of less than 0.1 nm and an average reflectivity of 0.26%. Thus, the phase mask method is a promising alternative for on-line writing identical FBG arrays.

Local structural health monitoring system in aircraft based on fiber Bragg grating array

This study reports on signal recovery of optical fiber Bragg gratings embedded in a carbon fiber composite overwrapped pressure vessel's (COPV) structure which have become chirped due to microcracks. COPVs are commonly used for the storage of high pressure liquids and gases. They utilize a thin metal liner to seal in contents, with a composite overwrap to strengthen the vessel with minimal additional mass. A COPV was instrumented with an array of surface mounted and embedded fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) for structural health monitoring (SHM) via strain sensing of the material. FBGs have been studied as strain sensors for the last couple decades. Many of the embedded FBGs reflected a multi-peak, chirped response which was not able to be interpreted well by the current monitoring algorithm. Literature and this study found that the chirping correlated with microcracks. As loading increases, so does the number of chirped FBGs and microcracks. This study uses optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) to demultiplex the array of FBGs, and then sub- divide individual FBGs. When a FBG is sub-divided using OFDR, the gratings' strain along its length is recovered. The sub-divided chirped FBGs have strain gradients along their length from microcracks. Applying this to all chirped gratings, nearly the entirety of the embedded sensors' readings can be recovered into a series of single peak responses, which show very large local strains throughout the structure. This study reports on this success in recovering embedded FBGs signal, and the strain gradient from microcracks.

To achieve better designs for spacecraft heat shields for missions requiring atmospheric aero-capture or entry/reentry, reliable thermal protection system (TPS) sensors are needed. Such sensors will provide both risk reduction and heat-shield mass minimization, which will facilitate more missions and enable increased payloads and returns. This paper discusses TPS thermal measurements provided by a temperature monitoring system involving lightweight, electromagnetic interference-immune, high-temperature resistant fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors with a thermal mass near that of TPS materials together with fast FBG sensor interrogation. Such fiber-optic sensing technology is highly sensitive and accurate, as well as suitable for high-volume production. Multiple sensing FBGs can be fabricated as arrays on a single fiber for simplified design and reduced cost. Experimental results are provided to demonstrate the temperature monitoring system using multisensor FBG arrays embedded in a small-size super-light ablator (SLA) coupon which was thermally loaded to temperatures in the vicinity of the SLA charring temperature. In addition, a high-temperature FBG array was fabricated and tested for 1000°C operation, and the temperature dependence considered over the full range (cryogenic to high temperature) for which silica fiber FBGs have been subjected.

We propose a novel approach to realizing all-optical microwave filtering using an array of fiber Bragg gratings with identical reflectivities. The filter tapping coefficients are determined by the spectrum profile of a broadband light source and the central wavelengths of the gratings. Since the fiber Bragg gratings have identical reflectivities, the characteristics of the gratings with high uniformity are possible, which simplifies the fiber Bragg grating fabrication and reduces the implementation error. In addition, the spectrum profile of the broadband light source can be controlled using an optical filter, which could be used to control the filter coefficients to suppress the filter sidelobes. A microwave filter using four fiber Bragg gratings is experimentally implemented.

We propose a return-to-zero on-off keying (RZ-OOK) to non-return-to-zero (NRZ) OOK conversion scheme based on a single custom-designed fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The custom-made FBG is designed and syn­thesized using discrete layer-peeling algorithm. It is shown that such a FBG can replace the combination of interferometer and the cascaded filter that are invariably employed together in the reported schemes for ­RZ-OOK to NRZ-OOK format conversion. Simulation results show that the input 20-Gb/s RZ-OOK signals with different duty cycles can be converted into NRZ-OOK signals with high Q-factor.

In this study, a down-scaled wind turbine blade was designed and fabricated using glass and carbon fiber materials for the skin and stiffener, respectively. In the course of its fabrication, an array of FBG (fiber Bragg grating) sensors was embedded in the composite laminates. The embedded FBG sensor array was used to measure the residual strain in the stiffener before and after the curing process, and after fabrication of the blade, the FBG array was used to monitor the structural conditions, including structural dynamic behavior during the structural testing of the blade. The results of the tests showed that the FBG sensor array effectively measured the residual strain distribution of the blade stiffener before and after the curing process. And the measured natural frequencies and mode shapes by the FBG array matched the results obtained from the FE analysis and conventional accelerometers.

We demonstrated a MHz speed wavelength-swept fiber laser based on the active mode locking (AML) technique and applied to interrogation system of an array of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. MHz speed wavelength sweeping of wavelength-swept fiber laser can be obtained by programmable frequency modulation of the semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) without any wavelength tunable filter. Both static and dynamic strain measurement of FBG sensors were successfully characterized with high linearity of an R-square value of 0.9999 at sweeping speed of 50 kHz.