Same origin three-dimensional strain detection FBG sensor based on elliptical ring and its optimization

Abstract

In order to achieve the same origin three-dimensional (3D) strain measurement, one three-dimensional (3D) fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor is proposed in this paper. The metal structure of this sensor is composed by three elliptical rings with different geometrical parameters. All these elliptical rings make sure that this sensor achieves the same origin 3D strain detection and increases the strain measurement coefficient. A theory calculation model of this sensor is established. The finite element method is utilized to optimize this sensor and verify the correctness of the theory model. After sensor optimization, 1 mm is chosen as the radical thickness of this sensor based on taking high strain detection coefficient and structure strength into account. To further obtain detection characteristics of this sensor, the calibration experiment is carried out. Experimental data of FBG1 which is the core sensitive element of this sensor is chosen as the specimen to be analyzed by the least square method. When the wavelength of FBG1 is changed by external stress, wavelengths of FBG2 and FBG3 have just a little fluctuation maybe caused by the fiber demodulation instrument SM125. So sensitive elements (FBG1, FBG2, and FBG3) of this sensor have no crosstalk problem for three-dimensional detection. After data analysis, the measuring coefficient of FBG1 is 0.05 nm/N. Similarly, the coefficients of FBG2 and FBG3 are 0.045 nm/N and 0.39 nm/N, respectively. All these data confirm that this sensor could achieve the same origin 3D strain measurement without the crosstalk problem and has certain practical applications.