Fiber Optic Sensor Research Articles

Damage detection of Kevlar woven fabric using optical fiber multimode interferometer

Kevlar woven fabric is crucial for the lightweight design of aerospace structures due to its unique advantages. However, it is susceptible to damage during operation, making effective damage detection essential for ensuring structural reliability. Nevertheless, conventional sensors used for damage detection have limitations such as complex manufacturing processes and weight. To address this issue, this paper proposed a simple singlemode-multimode-singlemode (SMS) optical fiber sensor to collect vibration signals and construct a damage recognition model based on natural frequency in order to identify the size of damages in Kevlar woven fabrics. To achieve a highly linear and accurate sensor, a length determination criterion for multimode optical fiber segments based on quasi-image, notch, and transmission spectrum loss was proposed. An optical sensor was fabricated based on this criterion. The feasibility and sensitivity of the sensor for vibration signal measurement were verified by constructing a vibration signal measurement device. An experimental study was conducted to detect damage in Kevlar tapes, where the natural frequency changes measured by the SMS sensor were integrated with an optimized multi-variable gray model for damage size detection. The experimental results indicate that the estimated error in damage size is 0.71%. The damage identification system proposed in this paper offers a simple and cost-effective solution for measuring damage in flexible structures using fiber optic sensors.

A Study on Sensitivity Improvement of the Fiber Optic Acoustic Sensing System Based on Sagnac Interference.

A new pickup structure was introduced and modified to improve the resolution of the linear Sagnac optical fiber acoustic sensing system. The maximum strains corresponding to the material, diameter, wall thickness, and height of the pickups were analyzed by simulation. An aluminum cylinder with a diameter of 110 mm, a wall thickness of 3 mm, and a height of 120 mm was chosen as the basic pickup. A four-groove pickup with a vertical width of 80 mm and a horizontal width of 20 mm was introduced to improve the sensitivity of the system. The experiments showed that the average peak-to-peak sensitivity of the four-groove pickup increased by 215.54% to 106.806 mV/Pa. The improved pickup can be applied in areas to monitor the situation of invasion of the Sagnac optical fiber acoustic sensing system.

Application of acrylic plates as load cell for detecting strain and force in structures

This study presents the use of two superimposed transparent acrylic plates as a load cell for strain and force measurement. The gap between the plates behaves like an interferometer. When a monochromatic light beam is incident upon the gap, it interacts with the two air-acrylic interfaces, causing constructive and destructive interference. This phenomenon results in the formation of an interference pattern. Interferometers are devices used for high-precision measurements. In this work, the strain and force applied to an aluminum bar were precisely measured using two acrylic plates fixed to the bar. The experiments showed that the proposed method has a measurement range of 0–60[Formula: see text] and a resolution of 0.27[Formula: see text]. It is demonstrated that the proposed method offers a low-cost strain measurement technique with a wider measurement range compared to fiber optic sensors

Detection of tendon breaks in prestressed concrete structures using coda wave interferometry

AbstractTendon breaks significantly threaten the safety of prestressed concrete structures. Failure of embedded tendons does not necessarily indicate as surface cracks, demonstrating the need for early detection methods. This paper presents a novel ultrasound‐based approach for detecting and localizing tendon breaks using coda wave interferometry. Already few embedded ultrasonic transducers form a robust monitoring network able to detect subtle changes in the structure. To demonstrate the feasibility of detecting tendon breaks, a post‐tensioned concrete beam was fabricated at Ruhr University Bochum, Germany. A break of a centric and eccentric tendon was artificially created by drilling from the outside. Both were successfully detected and localized through characteristic changes in the ultrasound results without any evidence of damage on the concrete surface. Measurements with fiber optic sensors validate the ultrasonic findings and provide insights into the re‐anchoring behavior after tendon failure.

Comparison of PMMA layers doped with methyl red and CdSe quantum dots for application in fibre optic

The paper presents a study of the luminescence properties in the visible spectral range of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) doped with organic dye-methyl red and CdSe quantum dots. The emission spectra of polymer-doped composite structures were investigated and compared with pure PMMA. Optical characterisation was carried out, focused on the measurement and analysis of excitation and luminescence spectra. Comparison of the spectroscopic characteristics of the developed materials allowed comparing the effect of doping on the luminescence properties of the obtained materials and considering their potential application as luminescent materials in fibre optic sensors.

Investigation of the Robust Integration of Distributed Fibre Optic Sensors in Structural Concrete Components.

In recent times, the value of data has grown. This tendency is also observeable in the construction industry, where research and digitalisation are increasingly oriented towards the collection, processing and analysis of different types of data. In addition to planning data, measurement data is a main focus. fibre optic measurements offer a highly precise and comprehensive approach to data collection. It is, however, important to note that this technology is still in research regarding concrete structures. This paper presents two methods of integrating filigree sensors into concrete structures. The first approach entails wrapping a fibre around a tendon duct and analysing the installation and associated measurements. The second method involves bonding polyimide and acrylate-coated fibres with 2K epoxy and cyanoacrylate in the grooves of rebars, exposing them to chemical environments. The resulting measurement data is evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively to ascertain its resilience to environmental factors. These developed criteria are consolidated in a decision matrix. Fibre-adhesive combinations necessitate protection from chemical and mechanical influences. The limitations of the solutions are pointed out, and alternative options are proposed.

Revealing the Impact of Composition on Oil Monitoring Performance of Ni-Ti-Cu Coated Optical Fiber

Shape Memory Alloy-coated optical fiber provides an economical, Smart, and real-time monitoring technological solution for Industry 4.0. In this work, the compositional influence of Ni-Ti-Cu coating on optical signal actuation has been studied. Morphological studies showed improvement in the grain size, surface roughness, and a better shape memory effect. Thermal characteristics revealed an increase in the phase transformation temperature of NiTiCu with higher copper content. Experimental analysis of optical fiber sensors in Mineral Oil resulted in a gradual shift in the actuation temperature range. A sensitivity of ∼52 mV/°C was recorded in the actuation window, showcasing the improved response time for copper-rich composition. A comparison of coated-uncoated optical fiber performance in oil has also been presented, and delamination studies were conducted by continuously exposing the samples to hot oil. The work can be referred for requirement-based composition selection for real-time and smart monitoring capability in the Oil industries.

An optical fiber high sensitivity temperature sensor with MZI and FPI parallel connection

Accurate detection of temperature is of great significance in the field of medical research. The focal point of this article centers around an optical fiber sensor that integrates Fabry Perot interferometer (FPI) filled with polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Mach Zehnder interferometer (MZI), leveraging the principle of the vernier effect. By introducing the vernier effect principle, the sensitivity is 31.09 nm/°C in the detection range of 36 ∼ 40°C, and the maximum temperature measurement error is about 0.55 %. In addition, good linear response and longtime stability make it suitable for application in various scenarios where accurate temperature measurement is required.

Single mode optical fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for the detection of the Lactic acid for the chemical sensor

Single mode optical fiber sensor based on surface plasmon resonance for the detection of the Lactic acid for the chemical sensor

Investigation of near infrared and Raman fibre optic process sensors for protein determination in milk protein concentrate

This study investigated the potential of two fibre optic process sensors based on near infrared (NIR) or Raman spectroscopic technology for protein measurement in milk protein concentrate (MPC). Partial least squares (PLS) models were developed using NIR, Raman, and fusion of NIR and Raman spectra data. Calibration models developed were optimized by selecting different spectral pre-treatment methods and spectral regions. Overall, the three optimal models (NIR, Raman, fused NIR and Raman) yielded R2p values >0.9 and RMSEP values in the range of 0.168–0.185 %. The optimised fusion model outperformed all Raman models and had a similar protein prediction accuracy (R2p = 0.911 and RMSEP = 0.178 %) compared to the optimised NIR model (R2p = 0.917 and RMSEP =0.168 %). Results of the study demonstrated that both NIR and Raman process probes can be used as process analytical technology (PAT) tools for inline protein measurements of MPC post membrane filtration.

Distributed salinity sensor based on optical frequency domain reflectometry with polyimide coated single mode fiber

A distributed optical fiber sensor for salinity sensing is proposed and analyzed. The sensor uses a single mode fiber coated with polyimide and is based on optical frequency domain reflectometry. By applying the polyimide solution to the surface of the fiber, a layer of polyimide film is formed by heating. As the polyimide coating is very sensitive to changes in the salinity of the external solution, the polyimide film will expand or shrink as the external concentration changes. This converts the value of salt concentration into the frequency shift in the spectrum through cross-correlation. To characterize the sensor, four polyimide-coated sensors with different average coating thicknesses of 126 µm, 170 µm, 192 µm and 249 µm were fabricated. The sensitivities of -21.71 GHz/(mol/L), -28.55 GHz/(mol/L), -29.97 GHz/(mol/L) and -42.78 GHz/(mol/L) were achieved when the salinity was measured from 0 mol/L to 3.09 mol/L, respectively. The sensitivity and response time of polyimide fibers with different diameters were measured. The minimum salinity measurement uncertainty of the sensor is 0.05 mol/L. The sensor has high sensitivity and has promising applications in observing ocean parameters and ion chemical sensing.

A fiber optic refractive index sensor with temperature compensation based on cascaded Mach-Zehnder interference and Intermodal interference

Optical fiber refractive index (RI) sensor with temperature (T) compensation has important application values in biomedicine and environmental monitoring. In order to solve the problem that the detection accuracy of liquid RI is affected by T in practical applications, a T-compensated RI fiber sensor based on cascaded Mach-Zehnder interference (MZI) and multimode interference (IMI) is proposed in this paper. Experimental results showed the proposed sensor achieved a sensitivity of 797.41 nm/RIU for the measurement of RI in the range of 1.3333–1.3640, and a sensitivity of 0.120 nm/°C for the measurement of T in the range of 0–60 °C. The resolution (R) of RI and T measurements reached 2.5 × 10−5 RIU and 0.167 °C, respectively. The detection limits (DL) of RI and T measurements are 3.135 × 10−8 RIU and 1.392 °C, respectively. A matrix is obtained to demodulate the cross-sensitivity in RI and T measurements. The proposed sensor shows the advantages of simple structure, low hysteresis, and good stability.

Retraction Note: Simulation of optical fiber sensor in motion training image analysis system based on human posture tracking algorithm

Retraction Note: Simulation of optical fiber sensor in motion training image analysis system based on human posture tracking algorithm

Enhanced intrusion detection with fiber optic sensors in rainy weather conditions: a comparative study of phase parameter matching and cross rebuilding algorithms for higher end communication

Enhanced intrusion detection with fiber optic sensors in rainy weather conditions: a comparative study of phase parameter matching and cross rebuilding algorithms for higher end communication

Retraction Note: Simulation of sports injury prevention and rehabilitation monitoring based on fiber optic sensors and machine learning algorithms

Retraction Note: Simulation of sports injury prevention and rehabilitation monitoring based on fiber optic sensors and machine learning algorithms

Low frequency vibration monitoring of wind turbine tower based on optical fiber sensor and its potential for internet of things

Among all renewable energy sources, wind energy is a cost-effective alternative energy source. The majority of wind turbines are built in harsh environments due to their power generation characteristics, which is one of the prime reasons resulting in frequent failures of wind turbine. Among various failures, the vibration of wind turbine tower cannot be ignored because it is a precursor of the failure of the wind turbine. The electrical vibration sensors have the problems of power supply and electromagnetic interference for the condition assessment of wind turbine tower. A vibration sensor based on optical Fabry-Perot (F-P) interference principle with high sensitivity is designed, fabricated and characterized to further meet the requirements of vibration detection of wind turbine tower. The mechanical simulation model of the diaphragm and optical vibration platform is constructed to verify the sensing characteristic of the F-P optical fiber vibration sensor (OFVS). The experiment results indicate a resonant frequency of the F-P OFVS of 223 Hz, an output sensitivity of 122.22 mV/m·s−2 at 10 Hz, and a horizontal output of less than 6 %. In addition, the designed F-P OFVS possesses the superiorities of compact structure, passive and excellent anti-electromagnetic interference, and has a wide application prospect in the vibration detection of the wind turbine tower.

Metal-organic framework modified open-cavity optical fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer for volatile organic compound detection

Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is crucial in industrial production, environmental monitoring, and public safety. VOCs sensors need to be intrinsically safe, given the flammability and toxicity of common VOCs. Fiber optic sensors offer a passive and flexible solution for VOCs detection, attracting significant attention from researchers. In this study, ZIF-8, a subset of metal-organic frameworks, is applied to a side-polished silicon wafer, forming an open-cavity optical fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer (FPI) with a fiber patch cable and a 3D-printed structural part. The sensing performance for prevalent VOCs, including methylbenzene, methanol, and ethanol, is experimentally explored, exhibiting sensitivities of 0.118 p.m./ppm, 0.177 p.m./ppm, and 0.412 p.m./ppm, respectively. Sensitivity differences are analyzed and demonstrated at the molecular level. The proposed technologies offer advantages such as easy fabrication, intrinsic safety, small size, and good selectivity, providing an alternative for VOCs detection in industrial production.

From localized to propagating surface plasmon resonances in Au nanoparticle-coated optical fiber sensors and its implications in biosensing

Nanoparticle-based plasmonic optical fiber sensors can exhibit high sensing performance, in terms of refractive index sensitivities (RISs). However, a comprehensive understanding of the factors governing the RIS in this type of sensor remains limited, with existing reports often overlooking the presence of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena in nanoparticle (NP) assemblies and attributing high RIS to plasmonic coupling or waveguiding effects. Herein, using plasmonic optical fiber sensors based on spherical Au nanoparticles, we investigate the basis of their enhanced RIS, both experimentally and theoretically. The bulk behavior of assembled Au NPs on the optical fiber was investigated using an effective medium approximation (EMA), specifically the gradient effective medium approximation (GEMA). Our findings demonstrate that the Au-coated optical fibers can support the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) as well as SPR in particular scenarios. Interestingly, we found that the nanoparticle sizes and surface coverage dictate which effect takes precedence in determining the RIS of the fiber. Experimental data, in line with numerical simulations, revealed that increasing the Au NP diameter from 20 to 90 nm (15% surface coverage) led to an RIS increase from 135 to 6998 nm/RIU due to a transition from LSPR to SPR behavior. Likewise, increasing the surface coverage of the fiber from 9% to 15% with 90 nm Au nanoparticles resulted in an increase in RIS from 1297 (LSPR) to 6998 nm/RIU (SPR). Hence, we ascribe the exceptional performance of these plasmonic optical fibers primary to SPR effects, as evidenced by the nonlinear RIS behavior. The outstanding RIS of these plasmonic optical fibers was further demonstrated in the detection of thrombin protein, achieving very low limits of detection. These findings support broader applications of high-performance NP-based plasmonic optical fiber sensors in areas such as biomedical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and chemical analysis.

Amplifying Fibre Optic Sensor Signals with Graphene Oxide-Silver Nanostars

This work presents a straightforward yet impactful method to enhance optical fibre sensor signals by integrating silver nanostars (AgNS) with graphene oxide (GO-AgNS) as a sensing material. AgNS were synthesized successfully via a one-step chemical reduction method using hydroxylamine as a reducing agent. The concentration of hydroxylamine was varied (7.2, 3.6, 1.8, and 0.9) x 10−4 %v/v to optimize AgNS formation, with the longest spike of the nanostar observed at lower hydroxylamine concentrations, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). UV-visible measurements revealed the highest peak absorption for AgNS synthesized using 0.9 x 10−4 %v/v hydroxylamine, 0.05 M sodium hydroxide, 0.8 mM silver nitrate, and 0.045 M sodium citrate, with an average length of 352.62 ± 59.72 nm measured from TEM images. GO was synthesized via a modified Hummer’s method and mixed with AgNS at varying ratios (1:5, 1:10, 1:15, and 1:20) to form GO-AgNS coatings for the fibre optic probe. The GO-AgNS coating at a ratio of 1:5 exhibited the highest light absorption intensity, enhancing optical signal by 218% compared to GO-coated and 174% compared to AgNS-coated fibre optic sensors. These findings demonstrate that embedding AgNS onto the GO matrix structure as a sensing material significantly improves sensor performance, suggesting promising applications for super-sensitive, cost-effective, and rapid detection in fibre optic-based sensors.

DC current sensor based upon a fused fiber optic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) and copper wire

In order to meet the demand for direct current (DC) current measurements in industrial production, a new type of fiber optic DC current sensor, combining thin copper wire and fiber optic Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI), is reported. FPI is a sandwich structure formed by splicing a single-mode fiber (SMF) and a quartz capillary, with a cavity length of approximately 200 μm. The copper wire, with a length of 3.2 cm and a diameter of 1 mm, is attached to the FPI to form the sensor. Due to the excellent thermal conductivity of copper, the results showed that the sensor increased the sensitivity from 4.1 pm/°C to 11 pm/°C. After applying direct current to the sensor, a large quantity of heat generated by the copper wire was absorbed by the FPI, resulting in a significant shift in the resonant wavelength of FPI, which can indirectly measure the current. Three current experiments were performed, and parabolic curves have been used in fitting of the Dip wavelength and the square of the current. The results provide high correlation coefficients with values exceeding 0.99. Therefore, this curve may be used to measure the square of the current, further obtaining the current. In summary, the sensor is compact and durable, easy to manufacture, and provides high correlation coefficients, providing an alternative for measuring DC current.