A micromachined intensity-modulated fiber optic sensor for strain measurements: working principle and static calibration

Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2012:2012:5790-3. doi: 10.1109/EMBC.2012.6347310.

Abstract

This paper describes an intensity-modulated fiber optic sensor for strain measurements. The sensing element is a polydimetilsiloxane (PDMS) micro-diffraction grating, 15 mm long, 2 mm thick, with channels 150 µm wide, spaced apart 200 µm. The working principle of the sensor can be summarized as follows: when the sensing element is strained perpendicularly to the grating plane, light passing through the grating undergoes a modulation caused by the phenomenon of diffraction. Since the grating is interposed between a laser source and a fiber optic, the coupled radiation intensity between these two optical elements can be considered as an indirect measure of strain. A static calibration of the measuring system has been performed, showing that the device, with measuring range of about 0.04, is capable to discriminate strain of 0.005 and it presents a sensitivity increase with strain in the whole range of measurements.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Calibration*
  • Fiber Optic Technology / instrumentation*
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Stress, Mechanical*