Optical Strain Sensor Research Articles

Reflection-Based Optical Fiber Strain Sensor Using Polarization Maintaining and Thin Core Fibers

A strain fiber optic sensor is proposed and experimentally demonstrated in this letter. The sensor operates in reflection mode, and its assembly relies on a single splice point between a thin core fiber and polarization-maintaining fiber. The system offers competitive sensitivities of 14.68 and 6.9 pm/ <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \varepsilon $ </tex-math></inline-formula> , determined by the PM-fiber length. In addition, the one-way ANOVA analysis indicates a minimal error (MSE=0.34) and low probability of measurement overlap ( <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text {Prob}&gt;\text {F}= 5.59882\times 10^{-85}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> ). The fabrication, the sensor dimensions, and the statistical analysis make the proposed sensor an attractive alternative for monitoring strain.

Printed Structurally Colored Cellulose Sensors and Displays

AbstractHydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) is a commercially available and biodegradable cellulose derivative, which is known to self‐assemble into chiral nematic liquid crystal phases in water. These features, including liquid crystal‐induced selective reflections in the visible range, make HPC an ideal biopolymer host material for dynamic structural color‐shifting materials. Herein, HPC is used as a starting matrix material and found that, by adding carbon nanotubes (CNT) to an aqueous dispersion of HPC, the color saturation can be improved without influencing the structural color formation and simultaneously conferring electrical conductivity to the material. Additionally, up to 0.4 wt% of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) can be added to control and tune the rheological properties of the suspension allowing for 3D printability while also maintaining the structural colors. The HPC‐CNT‐CNF printed composite materials show application for flexible color‐changing devices in the form of a dual readout optical and resistive strain sensor and is used as the active material in a dynamic seven‐segment color display. This multipurpose color‐changing material has the potential to be used in the creation of eco‐friendly visual intelligent devices and biodegradable user interfaces and, as such, contributes to the advancement of the field of sustainable and green electronics.

Improving the measurement range of FFPI strain sensing using second-order control PDH technology.

A novel demodulation method is presented to expand the measurement dynamic range for fiber optic strain sensors using PDH technology. The new control algorithm uses two integrators to form a 2nd order control, and the FFPI strain sensor can have a dynamic range of 20 dB/octave larger than the PID control method when the input signal frequency decreases a magnitude. A strain resolution of 4.7 pɛ Hz-1/2@10Hz, a 118 dB@10Hz dynamic range without consecution, and 158 dB with consecution is obtained. The experiment results show that the new control method can improve the sensing system's dynamic range with the corner frequency unchanged and without the system noise level degradation.

Discussion on pile axial load test methods and their applicability in cold regions

The measurement of pile axial load is of great significance to determining pile foundation design parameters such as skin friction and end bearing capacity and analyzing load transfer mechanisms. Affected by the temperature and ice content of frozen ground, the interface contact relationship between pile foundation and frozen soil is complicated, making pile axial load measurements more uncertain than that in non-frozen ground. Therefore, it is necessary to gain an in-depth understanding of the current pile axial load test methods. Four methods are systematically reviewed: vibrating wire sensors, strain gauges, sliding micrometers, and optical fiber strain sensors. At the same time, the applicability of the four test methods in frozen soil regions is discussed in detail. The first two methods are mature and commonly used. The sliding micrometer is only suitable for short-term measurement. While the Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain gauge meets the monitoring requirements, the Brillouin optical time-domain reflectometer (BOTDR) needs further verification. This paper aims to provide a technical reference for selecting and applying different methods in the pile axial load test for the stability study and bearing capacity assessment of pile foundations in cold regions.

Generalized Cross-Correlation Strain Demodulation Method Based on Local Similar Spectral Scanning.

Optical fiber measurement technology is widely used in the strength testing of buildings, the health testing of industrial equipment, and the minimally invasive surgery of modern medical treatment due to its characteristics of free calibration, high precision, and small size. This paper presents an algorithm that can improve the range and stability of strain measurements in order to solve the problems of the small range and measurement failure of optical fiber strain sensors based on optical frequency-domain reflectometry (OFDR). Firstly, a Rayleigh scattering model based on the refractive index perturbation of an optical fiber is proposed to study the characteristics of Rayleigh scattering and to guide the strain demodulation algorithm based on the spectral shift. Secondly, a local similar scanning method that can maintain a high similarity by monitoring local Rayleigh scattering signals (LSs) before and after strain is proposed. Thirdly, a generalized cross-correlation algorithm is proposed to detect spectral offset, solving the problem of demodulation failure in the case of a Rayleigh scattering signal with a low signal-to-noise ratio. Experiments show that the proposed method still has high stability when the spatial resolution is 3 mm. The measurement precision is 6.2 με, which proves that the multi-peaks or pseudo-peaks of the traditional algorithm in the case of a large strain, the high spatial resolution, and the poor signal-to-noise ratio are solved, and the stability of the strain measurement process is improved.

Study on strain sensing property of fiber Bragg grating based on surface strain measurement of mechanical structure.

Strain monitoring is of great significance to identify the failure of key mechanical components and ensure the good operation of mechanical equipment. In terms of the common issue of the low sensitivity of fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensor in strain measurement on the mechanical structure surface, this paper describes a flexible hinge strain sensor with the FBG as the sensitive element. A theoretical analysis of the sensitivity of the sensor is performed, a copper alloy material with a large elastic modulus is selected, the simulation analysis and optimization design for the structural parameters of the sensor are carried out by using ANSYS and Solidworks software, then the object of the sensor is developed according to the simulation results, and finally, the performance of the sensor is tested. The results show that the maximum deformation the sensor can measure is 0.5299 µε, the sensitivity of the sensor is ∼1.8870 pm/µε, which is approximately twice that of the bare FBG sensor, the linearity is greater than 99%, and the relative standard deviation of the repeatability is 0.9%. The results of the study provide a reference for developing the optical fiber strain sensor and further improving its sensitivity.

A strain reflection-based fiber optic sensor using thin core and standard single-mode fibers

We propose and demonstrate a fiber optic strain sensor based on a simple splice between a thin core fiber and a piece of conventional single-mode fiber. Mode dispersion generates an interference reflection spectrum sensitive to strain and temperature. The sensor offers a competitive strain sensitivity of 2.4 pm/μɛ, good linearity (R2=0.9969), and a cursory repeatability analysis yielded variation. The thermal studies indicate minimal cross-sensitivity (2.9 μɛ/°C). The sensor offers a simple implementation without any intricate manufacturing.

An Improved Strain Sensor Based on Long-Period Fiber Grating With a Local Ellipse-Core Structure

In this paper, we proposed a novel long-period fiber grating strain sensor based on local ellipse-core fiber (LEC-LPFG). The LEC-LPFG was fabricated by laser polishing and local heating methods, which could efficiently transform a single-mode fiber (SMF) into a periodic ellipse-core fiber. The effects associated with the fiber elliptical core shape were shown to significantly influence the strain sensitivity of the LEC-LPFG. Further, it was demonstrated that the LEC-LPFG has a high strain sensitivity of −20.2 pm/ <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\mu \varepsilon $ </tex-math></inline-formula> and a temperature sensitivity of 68.6 pm/°C. Our work provides a new technology for straightforward, low-cost, and large-scale productions of premium fiber optical strain sensors which are desirable in many practical applications.

Nonnuclear Experimental Capabilities to Support Design, Development, and Demonstration of Microreactors

This work provides a summary of selected experimental capabilities being developed to support nonnuclear testing and demonstration of technology in support of microreactors under the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Microreactor Program. Major capabilities include the Single Primary Heat Extraction and Removal Emulator (SPHERE) and the Microreactor Agile Non-nuclear Experimental Test Bed (MAGNET). The SPHERE facility allows for controlled testing of the steady-state and transient heat rejection capabilities of a single heat pipe using electrical heaters that simulate nuclear heating. The facility is capable of monitoring axial temperature profiles along the heat pipe and surrounding test articles during startup, steady-state operation, and transients. Instrumentation includes noncontact infrared thermal imaging, surface thermocouples, spatially distributed fiber optic temperature and strain sensors, electrical power meters, and a water-cooled, gas-gap calorimeter for quantifying heat rejection from the heat pipe. The facility can be operated under both vacuum and inert-gas conditions. The MAGNET facility is a large-scale, 250-kW electrically heated microreactor test bed to enable nonnuclear experimental evaluation of a variety of microreactor concepts. It can be supplied to electrically heat a scaled section of a microreactor and further test the capabilities of heat rejection systems. The initial MAGNET experiments will support technology maturation and reduce uncertainty and risk associated with the design, operation, and deployment of monolithic heat pipe–based reactors. However, this test bed can broadly be applied to multiple microreactor concepts to evaluate a wide range of thermal-hydraulic and structural phenomena such as interface coupling with power conversion units and other collocated systems. MAGNET can evaluate integral thermomechanical effects during electrical heating of an array of heat pipes in a larger test article. Examples of initial testing will include thermal stresses in the monolith and the impact of debonding of a heat pipe from the core block and how that failure could impact surrounding heat pipes, i.e., understanding the potential for cascading failure. This work also discusses some modeling capabilities that can support experiment design, analysis, and interpretation, including the heat pipe code Sockeye and a comparison of thermal-structural simulations performed using ABAQUS and STAR-CCM+.

Fibre-optic measurement of strain and shape on a helicopter rotor blade during a ground run: 1. Measurement of strain

Optical fibre strain and shape measurement sensors were deployed on a 5-m long rotor blade during a full-speed (rotation rate 6.6 Hz) helicopter ground run, with real-time data wirelessly streamed from rotor hub-mounted sensor interrogators. In Part 1 of a 2-part paper series, the strain sensing capabilities of the two optical fibre-based sensing techniques, optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) and fibre segment interferometry (FSI), are compared, while Part 2 (Kissinger et al 2022 Smart Mater. Struct. accepted) specifically investigates the blade shape measurement based on the FSI approach. In part 1, the rotor hub-mounted instrumentation is described, and data on the dynamics of the blade obtained from a sequence of controlled pilot inputs are analysed both in the time and spectral domains. It is shown that this can provide insights into the aeroelastic properties of the blade. Noise standard deviations of 0.2 n/ and 30 n/ for the FSI and FBG-based sensing approaches, respectively, were observed over a strain range of 3500 µϵ.

Fibre-optic measurement of strain and shape on a helicopter rotor blade during a ground run: 2. Measurement of shape

Optical fibre strain and shape measurement sensors were deployed on a rotor blade during a full-speed helicopter ground run, with real-time data wirelessly streamed from rotor hub-mounted sensor interrogators. In part 2 of a 2-part paper series, two-dimensional direct fibre-optic shape sensing (DFOSS), using fibre segment interferometry-based interrogation is investigated. The concept of blade shape change visualisation over one rotation period using rotation displacement surfaces is introduced and the usefulness of DFOSS data to gain additional insights by determining operational modal frequencies independently for both horizontal and vertical vibration directions of the blade is demonstrated.

Large Deformation Shape Sensing Using a Nonlinear Strain to Displacement Method

This paper presents a three-dimensional strain-to-displacement transformation method based on a nonlinear modal formulation, suitable for cases of large structural deformations. The method is first demonstrated numerically on a complex beam-like structure test case. A sensitivity study presents the effects of different solution parameters, such as the number of modes and sensors used and the measurement noise. The method is then applied to an experimental test case of the Pazy wing that undergoes very large deformations of 50% span. The wing is equipped with fiber optic strain sensors and a motion-tracking camera system that provides the reference displacement data. The modal data are extracted experimentally, and the scheme is validated using data from a structural loading test. The method is used in a wind tunnel test to map the wing’s deformations from measured strain data. Results are compared to those of a linear modal strain-to-displacement transformation method and to displacements computed by direct integration of the measured strains. The process is shown to yield superior results in cases of large deformations.

Experimental Investigation of Low-Frequency Distributed Acoustic Strain-Rate Responses to Propagating Fractures

Summary Low-frequency distributed acoustic sensing (LF-DAS) responds to strain changes due to far-field fracture propagation. To better understand the LF-DAS response to fracture propagation, we performed laboratory-scale hydraulic fracture experiments with embedded optical strain sensors. The objectives of this research are to generate hydraulic fractures of known geometry, measure the strain response along the embedded fiber-optic cable comparable to LF-DAS measurements, and use the results to inform the interpretation of field-derived LF-DAS data. The experiments were conducted in unconfined transparent cubic blocks with a dimension of 8 in. on each side. The block was made of transparent epoxy to visualize the fracture propagation. Fiber-optic sensing cables were embedded in the block at different distances to the source of injection. We injected dyed water through an injection tubing to generate a transverse, radial fracture along an initial flaw. An optical interrogator recorded the response of offset fiber Bragg grating (FBG) strain sensors normal to the plane of the fracture. The strain data were visualized on a waterfall plot, akin to visualizations of field-derived LF-DAS data. Dimensional analysis was used to scale the laboratory results to field conditions. We compared the evolution of the strain response at the fiber-optic cable, injection pressure, and rate with known fracture geometry. The measured strains were compared with Sneddon’s (1946) linear elastic solution for a penny-shaped crack and found to follow this behavior. The generated radial fractures in transparent media can be modeled with Sneddon’s linear elastic radial fracture model and a Mode I critical stress intensity factor. The LF-DAS characteristic response of a narrowing region of extension surrounded by compression was exhibited as a fracture that approached and intersected the fiber-optic cable. The experimentally derived strain and strain-rate waterfall plots with known fracture geometry, injection rate, and pressure response provide insight in understanding LF-DAS responses in the field. Furthermore, we developed a method to estimate fracture geometry evolution from the fiber-optic strain data and validated the method against the experimental data.

Dirac Point Modulated Self-Powered Ultrasensitive Photoresponse and Color-Tunable Electroluminescence from Flexible Graphene/Metal–Organic Frameworks/Graphene Vertical Phototransistor

Integrated wearable optoelectronic devices synchronously exhibit contradictory phenomena of exciton generation and recombination with their control by an external electric field, and the mechanical strain associated with this has widespread applications. However, a demonstration of such single-miniaturized multifunctional wearable optoelectronics remains a daunting challenge. A versatile metal–organic framework (MOF) possesses tailorable outstanding optical properties through an inherent multiple charge-transfer mechanism between metal and ligand. Yet, its commercialization remains unsuccessful because of large porosity, poor conductivity, and deficient crystallinity. Graphene is honorable for its outstanding optoelectronic and mechanical behaviors. Combining excellent features of a versatile MOF with monolayer graphene, unprecedently, we report a self-powered ultrasensitive (external quantum efficiency ∼3 × 1010%) and ultrafast (response time ≈ 220 μs) wearable vertical phototransistor by utilizing a graphene/MOF/graphene/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-trifluoroethylene) heterojunction on a flexible polydimethylsiloxane substrate through the formation of asymmetric Schottky junctions at MOF/graphene interfaces by a judicious incorporation of a piezo-sensitive poly(vinylidene fluoride) layer. Importantly, by the Dirac point modulation of graphene through a mechanical strain, we achieve optical strain sensors that can modify the amplitude and polarity of the photocurrent. Additionally, controlling the Dirac point of graphene and charge-transfer mechanisms of the MOF by a suitable electrical bias and strain, we demonstrate color-tunable broadband light emission from a flexible vertical phototransistor. Our unique discovery will enrich wearable integrated optoelectronics.

Bioinspired Stretchable Fiber-Based Sensor toward Intelligent Human-Machine Interactions.

Wearable integrated sensing devices with flexible electronic elements exhibit enormous potential in human-machine interfaces (HMI), but they have limitations such as complex structures, poor waterproofness, and electromagnetic interference. Herein, inspired by the profile of Lindernia nummularifolia (LN), a bionic stretchable optical strain (BSOS) sensor composed of an LN-shaped optical fiber incorporated with a stretchable substrate is developed for intelligent HMI. Such a sensor enables large strain and bending angle measurements with temperature self-compensation by the intensity difference of two fiber Bragg gratings' (FBGs') center wavelength. Such configurations enable an excellent tensile strain range of up to 80%, moreover, leading to ultrasensitivity, durability (≥20,000 cycles), and waterproofness. The sensor is also capable of measuring different human activities and achieving HMI control, including immersive virtual reality, robot remote interactive control, and personal hands-free communication. Combined with the machine learning technique, gesture classification can be achieved using muscle activity signals captured from the BSOS sensor, which can be employed to obtain the motion intention of the prosthetic. These merits effectively indicate its potential as a solution for medical care HMI and show promise in smart medical and rehabilitation medicine.

Monitoring Flexure Behavior of Compacted Clay Beam Using High-Resolution Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensors

Abstract Understanding the mechanical characteristics of clayey soil is critical to estimate the stability of clay-related geotechnical engineering works. However, the distributed information of the internal deformation of clay is hard to capture through traditional methods. In this paper, a set of four-point bending tests were performed on a compacted clay beam instrumented with fiber optic strain sensors to investigate the flexure and cracking behaviors. The optical frequency domain reflectometry technique with high spatial resolution and precision was employed to establish a distributed strain sensing (DSS) system in this study. The results show that the DSS system exhibits a high accuracy in the collection of the clay deformation in terms of compression, tension, and cracking. The comparison of the internal strain profiles with the observation of particle image velocimetry analysis system verifies the feasibility of fiber optic sensing technology in the quantitative assessment of clay deformation. The performance of fiber optic sensors in the rebound deformation and creep deformation monitoring was preliminarily issued in the study. In addition, the progressive failure on the fiber–soil interface was analytically studied to evaluate the deformation compatibility between the fiber and surrounding clayed soil. The conclusions drawn in this paper can help to guide the state interpretation of clayey soil instrumented with fiber optic sensors.

A neural network-informed self-aware deployable structure with application to phased array antennas

State of the art radio frequency (RF) arrays are growing larger in pursuit of increased signal-to-noise ratio. In support of this goal, elaborate forms of metrology are being developed to support the increased footprints. This work provides a unique solution to fulfill the metrology requirements of large-scale deployable RF antennas through the implementation of neural network demodulation of fiber optic strain sensors. The fiber optics are patterned with fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) to encode strain on to back-reflected shifts in the wavelength of incident light. Experiments show the neural network can predict the deformation of a test structure within single millimeters for small amplitude motions. Therefore, the current technique meets the required precision needed for large scale deployable RF arrays operating at S-band or longer wavelengths.

The Relationship between Poisson's Ratio Index and Deformation Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures Tested through an Optical Fiber Bragg Grating Strain Sensor.

Flow-rutting is the main distress leading asphalt pavement to undergo premature maintenance, and is produced by the rapid accumulation of shear deformation in asphalt layers under high temperature and heavy loads. The excessive permanent deformation of the asphalt mixture at high temperature is related to the decrease of the material’s stability during the temperature increase and an unfavorable stress state, e.g., low confining pressure and high shear stress, which eventually leads to significant nonlinear viscoplastic behavior. In this research, dynamic modulus tests and repeated loading tests were carried out at 35 °C and 50 °C to analyze the deformation response of materials under a strain amplitude of <200 με and 400~500 μεs, respectively. Based on the in-lab repeated loading tests, the total deformation of the asphalt mixture in each loading and rest cycle was divided into three parts, being elastic, viscoelastic, and viscoplastic strain, and the measurement of the axial and lateral strain of cylindrical samples was realized with the aid of optical fiber Bragg grating strain sensors. It was found that the experimental index of the ratio between lateral strain and longitudinal strain (RLSLS), derived, but distinguished, from Poisson’s ratio defined limited in elastic strain, can characterize the deformation in viscoelastic and viscoplastic behaviors of the mixes. Furthermore, the indices of dynamic modulus, phase angle, complex Poisson’s ratio, stiffness, and creep rate of four types of mixes containing different volcanic ash fillers and asphalt binders at 35 °C and 50 °C were systematically analyzed by the jointed experiments of modified dynamic modulus tests and repeated loading tests, and their consistent trending to the RLSLS index was obtained.

Modeling of Supplemental Bar-Mounted Fiber Optic Strain Sensor for Structural Health Monitoring Applications

Abstract Fiber optic sensors have been increasingly utilized in structural health monitoring of large-scale civil structures. Bare fiber sensors are quite brittle, and therefore, their installation and embedment in reinforced concrete elements can be challenging, particularly when using uncommon materials as internal reinforcements in concrete. In the present study, a fiber optic strain sensor is preinstalled on a supplemental bar of adequate length and appropriate diameter. The sensor is attached to a glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) reinforcing bar in concrete flexural element. Performance under static-loading conditions has been evaluated, and the results have shown potential toward applying the technique to large-scale structures. Another objective of the present study is to develop a numerical model that represents the interaction between the concrete, the reinforcement steel, and the supplemental GFRP rebar, which has the sensor mounted on. The model is calibrated using experimental results. The model can be used to investigate varying parameters including material properties (e.g., compressive strength of concrete), geometrical data (e.g., the length of the supplemental rebar), and loading and boundary conditions, consequently eliminating the need to perform a large number of full-scale costly experiments. The developed model exhibited nearly identical behavior to the experiments after calibration. The study shows that the performance of the present sensing system is primarily affected by the relative sizes of the main and supplemental bars.

Calibration Technology of Optical Fiber Strain Sensor

Calibration Technology of Optical Fiber Strain Sensor