A self-repairing polymer waveguide sensor

Abstract

This paper presents experimental demonstrations of a self-repairing strain sensor waveguidecreated by self-writing in a photopolymerizable resin system. The sensor is fabricatedbetween two multi-mode optical fibers via lightwaves in the ultraviolet (UV)wavelength range and operates as a sensor through interrogation of the powertransmitted through the waveguide in the infrared (IR) wavelength range. After failureof the sensor occurs due to loading, the waveguide re-bridges the gap betweenthe two optical fibers through the UV resin. The response of the original sensorand the self-repaired sensor to strain are measured and show similar behaviors.