Enhanced sensitivity of glass optical fiber with various configuration for displacement and force sensor

Abstract

In this paper, the research has been carried out by testing the sensitivity of the displacement sensor. The sensor is made of glass optical fiber (GOF) with various configurations, structures and is based on Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR). The sensor has been made consisting of two structures singlemode and singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS). The configurations using gamma, bowknot, and loop shape with indentation diameter variations in the singlemode and SMS structure. Each sensor is given displacement and comparing between two structures. Furthermore, the research continued to application and given variation of the force that perpendicular to the sensor. Displacement will affect the output in the form of power losses read on the OTDR in dB units. The results showed that the smaller the diameter of sensor, the increased power loss so affecting the sensitivity and resolution values of the sensor. The best result was obtained at the loop configuration diameter 1 cm with SMS structure. For the displacement sensor, the sensitivity value of dB/mm and a resolution value of 0.027 mm. While the sensitivity and resolution of the force applied sensor obtained is 0.407 dB/N and 0.002 N. Displacement and force sensor can be used for landslide application with high sensitivity and better resolution.