A compact fiber-based sensor for wide range strain measurement. (April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Chupeng; Xiang, Zihang; Rui, Zeju; Cao, Zexin; Lv, Mingyang; Wang, Senyu; Yi, Yang; Chen, Xudong; Li, Xiaoyang; Sun, Cuiting; Yan, Yunxiang; Tong, Chengguo; Geng, Tao; Sun, Weimin
• Is Part Of: Optics & laser technology. Volume 148(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Subjects: Strain sensor -- Wide range measurement -- Long period fiber grating -- Single mode fiber; Optics -- Periodicals; Lasers -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 621.366
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optlastec.2021.107743
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0030-3992

Abstract

Highlights: The proposed strain sensor has a wide measurable range of 0–6800 με and linear response of 5.4 pm/με. The structure is compact with only 4 mm and has a low manufacturing cost. The strain sensitivity and measurable range of J-LPFG are inversely proportional to the number of periods, which is proved by simulation and experimental results. Abstract: In this paper, a compact strain sensor for wide range measurement is proposed and experimentally investigated. The proposed sensor is configured by jagged long period fiber grating (J-LPFG), which is fabricated by etching on two opposite sides of single mode fiber (SMF). Since the appearance of the structure seems like jag, we name it by J-LPFG. This unique physical shape brings itself a wide measurable range and linear strain response. Meanwhile, we compare the strain sensitivities of J-LPFGs with different periods through experiments. As the consequence of experiments, J-LPFG with 8 periods exhibits the best strain response which reaches 5.4 pm/με within the dynamic range of 0–6800 με. Furthermore, the strain sensitivity and measurable range of J-LPFG decrease as the number of periods increases. This theory is verified by experiments and strain distribution simulation. In addition, the temperature sensitivity of 8-periods J-LPFG is 57 pm/°C in the range of 30–150 °C. Due to low cost, simple preparation process, and wide measurable range, J-LPFG has great potential to be applied in practical engineering.