Fiber-Optic Sensors and Their Practical Research in the Internet of Things

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things(IoT)technology,fiber-optic sensors,as a kind of high-precision and high-sensitivity measurement tool,are increasingly widely used in the field of IoT.This paper outlines the advantages of fiber-optic sensors over traditional sensors,such as high precision,strong resistance to electromagnetic interference,and long transmission distance.On this basis,the paper discusses the application scenarios of fiber-optic sensors in the Internet of Things,including environmental monitoring,intelligent industry,medical and health care,intelligent transportation,and other fields.It is hoped that this study can provide theoretical support and practical guidance for the further development of fiber-optic sensors in the field of the Internet of Things,as well as promote the innovation and application of IoT.

Dual-channel fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance sensor with cascaded coaxial dual-waveguide D-type structure and microsphere structure

To address the restriction of fiber-optic surface plasmon resonance(SPR) sensors in the field of multi-sample detection, a novel dual-channel fiber-optic SPR sensor based on the cascade of coaxial dual-waveguide D-type structure and microsphere structure is proposed in this paper. The fiber sidepolishing technique converts the coaxial dual-waveguide fiber into a D-type one, and the evanescent wave in the ring core leaks, generating a D-type sensing region;the fiber optic fused ball push technology converts the coaxial dual waveguides into microspheres, and the stimulated cladding mode evanescent wave leaks, producing the microsphere sensing region. By injecting light into the coaxial dual-waveguide middle core alone, the sensor can realize single-stage sensing in the microsphere sensing area;it can also realize dual-channel sensing in the D-type sensing area and microsphere sensing area by injecting light into the ring core. The refractive index measurement ranges for the two channels are 1.333–1.365 and 1.375–1.405, respectively, with detection sensitivities of 981.56 nm/RIU and 4138 nm/RIU. The sensor combines wavelength division multiplexing and space division multiplexing technologies, presenting a novel research concept for multi-channel fiber SPR sensors.

Experimental Measurements of the Sensitivity of Fiber-optic Bragg Grating Sensors with a Soft Polymeric Coating under Mechanical Loading,Thermal and Magnetic under Cryogenic Conditions

The strain and temperature sensing performance of fiber-optic Bragg gratings （FBGs） with soft polymeric coating, which can be used to sense internal strain in superconducting coils, are evaluated under variable cryogenic field and magnetic field. The response to a temperature and strain change of coated-soft polymeric FBGs is tested by comparing with those of coated-metal FBGs. The results indicate that the coated-soft polymeric FBGs can freely detect temperature and thermal strain, their At variable magnetic field, the tested results indicate accuracy and repeatability are also discussed in detail. that the cross-coupling effects of FBGs with different matrixes are not negligible to measure electromagnetic strain during fast excitation. The present results are expected to be able to provide basis measurements on the strain of pulsed superconducting magnet/cable （cable- around-conduit conductors, cable-in-conduit conductors）, independently or utilized together with other strain measurement methods.

Inspection of Complex Internal Surface Shape with Fiber-optic Sensor II: for Specular Tilted Surface Measurement

Complex surface shape measurement has been a focus topic in the CAD/CAM field. A popular method for measuring dimensional information is using a 3D coordinate measuring machine (CMM)with a touch trigger probe. The measurement set up with CMM, however, is a time consuming task and the accuracy of the measurement deteriorates as the speed of measurement increase. Non-contact measurement is favored since high speed measurement can be achieved and problems with vibration and friction can be eliminated. Although much research has been conducted in non-contact measurement using image capturing and processing schemes, accuracy is poor and measurement is limited. Some optical technologies developed provide a good accuracy but the dynamic range and versatility is very limited. A novel fiber-optic sensor used for the inspection of complex internal contours is presented in this paper, which is able to measure a surface shape in a non-contact manner with high accuracy and high speed, and is compact and flexible to be incorporated into a CMM. Modulation functions for tilted surface shape measurement, based on the Gaussian distribution of the emitting beam from single-mode fiber (SMF), were derived for specular reflection. The feasibility of the proposed measurement principle was verified by simulations.

Highly Sensitive Fiber-Optic Faraday-Effect Magnetic Field Sensor Based on Yttrium Iron Garnet

The principle and performance of a fiber-optic Faraday-effect magnetic-field sensor based on an yttrium iron garnet (YIG) and two flux concentrations are described. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber links the sensor head to the source and detection system, in which the technique of phase shift cancellation is used to cancel the phase shift that accumulatein the optical fiber. Flux concentrators were exploited to enhance the YIG crystal magneto-optic sensitivity .The sensor system exhibited a noise-equivalent field of 8 pT/√Hz and a 3 dB bandwidth of ～10 MHz.

Measurement of Gamma-Rays Induced Luminescence Generated in a Sapphire Based Fiber-Optic Radiation Sensor

In this study, we fabricated a sapphire based fiber-optic radiation sensor. To evaluate the fiber- optic radiation sensor, we measured the spectrum and intensity of the luminescence generated from the fiber-optic radiation sensor according to the thickness of the PMMA block by irradiation of gamma rays emitted from a Co-60 source. And the result was compared with the value calculated from the formula of Lambert-Beer.

Ultrasonic sensitivity-improved fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer using a beam collimator and its application for ultrasonic imaging of seismic physical models

An ultrasonic sensitivity-improved fiber-optic Fabry-Perot interferometer （FPI） is proposed and employed for ultra- sonic imaging of seismic physical models （SPMs）. The FPI comprises a flexible ultra-thin gold film and the end face of a graded-index multimode fiber （MMF）, both of which are enclosed in a ceramic tube. The MMF in a specified length can collimate the diverged light beam and compensate for the light loss inside the air cavity, leading to an increased spectral fringe visibility and thus a steeper spectral slope. By using the spectral sideband filtering technique, the collimated FP1 shows an improved ultrasonic response. Moreover, two-dimensional images of two SPMs are achieved in air by recon- structing the pulse-echo signals through using the time-of-flight approach. The proposed sensor with easy fabrication and compact size can be a good candidate for high-sensitivity and high-precision nondestructive testing of SPMs.

Review of Fiber-optic Distributed Acoustic Sensing Technology

A distributed optical-fiber acoustic sensor is an acoustic sensor that uses the optical fiber itself as a photosensitive medium,and is based on Rayleigh backscattering in an optical fiber.The sensor is widely used in the safety monitoring of oil and gas pipelines,the classification of weak acoustic signals,defense,seismic prospecting,and other fields.In the field of seismic prospecting,distributed optical-fiber acoustic sensing(DAS)will gradually replace the use of the traditional geophone.The present paper mainly expounds the recent application of DAS,and summarizes recent research achievements of DAS in resource exploration,intrusion monitoring,pattern recognition,and other fields and various DAS system structures.It is found that the high-sensitivity and long-distance sensing capabilities of DAS play a role in the extensive monitoring applications of DAS in engineering.The future application and development of DAS technology are examined,with the hope of promoting the wider application of the DAS technology,which benefits engineering and society.

Laboratory investigations of the thermal strain of frozen soils,using fiber-optic strain gauges based on Bragg gratings

Measurements of the thermal deformations of frozen soil samples were performed in the cold laboratory in temperature range from 0°C to-12°C.Fiber Bragg Gratings strain and temperature sensors were used to measure the deformation and temperature inside the samples.A number of tests with the samples prepared from Kaolin and Cambrian clay saturated with fresh water,and prepared from fine and silt sand saturated with fresh or saline water,are performed.Thermal deformations of the samples are analyzed depending on the cyclic changes of their temperature.

Reflective Ladder Topology Network Based on White Light Fiber-Optic Mach-Zehnder Interferometer

In order to improve the multiplexing capability of the optical sensors based on the lower interferential optic fiber sensing technology and the white light fiber-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer,reflective ladder topology network ( RLT) with tailored formula was proposed. The topology network consists of 6 rungs sensing elements linked by 5 couplers. Two cases with different choices of couplers were contrasted: one is equal coupling ratio,and the other is tailored coupling ratio. Through the simulation of these two cases,the detailed multiplexing capability was analyzed,and accordingly the experiments were also carried out. The simulation results showed that,the tailored formula enhances the multiplexing capability of the structure. In the first case, the maximum number of sensors which can be multiplexed is 8,and in the other case is 12 fiber optic sensors. The experimental results have a good agreement with numerical simulation results. Thus,it is considered expedient to incorporate RLT into large-scale building,grounds,bridges,dams,tunnels,highways and perimeter security.

Analysis of signal-obtaining error factor of sensor in gyro

The digital signal-obtaining for gyroscope is given. The single optic-fiber sensor via modulating intensity of light is used as measuring eonlponent . The influence on static transmission properties resulting from the special working environnlent （e. g. cryogenic and vacuum） ,the measure error because of tile reflector shape of rotor,the abnormity of facula from sensor caused by the existence of engraving error,and tile fixing error of sensor and the error of machine tool＇s initial lignnlent are investigated. The mathematic model in every condition is founded, the simulation and relative experiments ale done and the outeome is analyzed. The mathematic model and method of compensating technology are studied and some relative experiments are made. The result of study is usefid to improvement of the signal-obtaining system.

Stress Sensing by an Optical Fiber Sensor: Method and Process for the Characterization of the Sensor Response Depending on Several Designs

In this paper we propose an analyzing of the response of a stress optical fiber sensor of which we proposed several design. We show that an optical fiber sensor with these designs can covenanting allow the measuring the force/stress applied to a mechanical structure or which it is linked, by optimizing the uses of appropriate materials for constituting the sensor support. The experiment that we introduce to validate our approach based in principles includes design with a support bearing a multimode optical fiber organized in such a way that the transmitted light is attenuated when the fiber-bending angle coming from stitching in holes of the support is modified by the effects of the force/stress applied to the optical fiber sensor realized in this way. The tests realized concern the most relevant parameters that define the performances of the stress sensor that we propose. We present the problems that we to solved for the optimization of the sensor for selecting the more efficient material for the optical fiber sensor support related to a relevant choice of optical fibers.

Dark Variants of Luminous Bacteria Whole Cell Bioluminescent Optical Fiber Sensor to Genotoxicants

A stable dark variant separated from photobacterium phosphoreum (A2) was fixed in agar-gel membrane and immobilized onto an exposed end of a fiber-optic linked with bioluminometer. The variant could emit a luminescent signal in the presence of genotoxic agents, such as Mitomycin C (MC). The performance of this whole-cell optical fiber sensor system was examined as a function of several parameters, including gel probe thickness, bacterial cell density, and diameter of the fiber-optic core and working temperature. An optimal response to a model genotoxicant, Mitomycin C, was achieved with agar-bacterial gel membrane: the thickness of gel membrane was about 5 mm; the cell density of bacteria in gel membrane was about 2.0×107 /ml; the diameter of fiber-optic core was 5.0 mm; the working temperature was 25 ℃. Under these optimized conditions, the response time was less than 10 h to Mitomycin C, with a lower detection threshold of 0.1 mg/L.

Non—touch Fiber—optic Reflective Displacement Sensor for Roller Wear

By accurately measuring the displacement between the roller surface and the optical fiber probe relative to a null position, we can test the roller wear. The whole testing method and system were introduced. Each part of the testing system was illustrated. And also a novel fiber-optic sensor with three probes in equal transverse space is adopted. Using this sensor, the effects of fluctuations in the light source, reflectivity changing of target surface and the intensity losses in the fiber lines are automatically compensated. This method offers such advantages as non-contact, no electromagnetic interference, simplicity, low cost, high sensitivity, good accuracy and stability.

A twist sensor based on polarization-maintaining fibers with different cladding diameters

A fiber twist sensor using a Sagnac interferometer incorporating a tapered polarization-maintaining fiber(PMF)is proposed.The transmission properties of the sensor are investigated both theoretically and experimentally.Given the optoelastic effect,which depends on fiber geometry,the modal and group birefringences of the PMF can be controlled by applying different twist angles.The spectral wavelength shifts,free spectral ranges,and transmission losses of the original,microtapered,and etched PMFs were compared.Notably,the interference dips for the etched PMF move in opposite directions.As a result,the proposed PMF-based sensor could have multiparameter sensing applications.

Two Sorts of Fiber Optic Sensor Monitoring the Cure Process of Composite Laminate

Two new sorts of fiber optic sensor are designed. Firstly, the variation of refractive index of resin surrounding the embedded fiber optic was mean to observed by measuring the speckle spatial spectrum at the end-face of the fiber optic. Secondly, it is proposed to measuring the change of thickness of the laminate by using fiber optic microbend attenuation. The experiment results measured by the fiber optic sensors are given. The first sort of sensor was found to be able to detect the viscosity process of the resin matrix during cure process including the minimum point of viscosity, the gelation point and the end point of cure process; the second sort of sensor could detect the course of change of the thickness of composite laminate pressed by operation pressure. It is benefit for us to optimize the operation technology and to establish the intelligent monitoring system about curing process of composites for the reason that the viscosity process and the change course of the thickness of laminate can be monitored.

Fiber-Optic Sensor Applications in Civil and Geotechnical Engineering

Different types of fiber-optic sensors based on glass or polymeric fibers are used to evaluate material behavior or to monitor the integrity and long-term stability of load-bearing structure components. Fiber-optic sensors have been established as a new and innovative measurement technology in very different fields, such as material science, civil engineering, light-weight structures, geotechnical areas as well as chemical and high-voltage substations. Very often, mechanical quantities such as deformation, strain or vibration are requested. However, measurement of chemical quantities in materials and structure components, such as pH value in steel reinforced concrete members also provides information about the integrity of concrete structures. A special fiber-optic chemical sensor for monitoring the alkaline state （pH value） of the cementitious matrix in steel-reinforced concrete structures with the purpose of early detection of corrosion-initiating factors is described. The paper presents the use of several fiber-optic sensor technologies in engineering. One example concerns the use of highly resolving concrete-embeddable fiber Fabry-Perot acoustic emission （AE） sensors for the assessment of the bearing behaviour of large concrete piles in existing foundations or during and after its installation. Another example concerns fiber Bragg grating （FBG） sensors attached to anchor steels （micro piles） to measure the strain distribution in loaded soil anchors. Polymer optical fibers （POF） can be -- because of their high elasticity and high ultimate strain - well integrated into textiles to monitor their deformation behaviour. Such ＂intelligent＂ textiles are capable of monitoring displacement of soil or slopes, critical mechanical deformation in geotechnical structures （dikes, dams, and embankments） as well as in masonry structures during and after earthquakes.

Structural Health Monitoring by Using Fiber-Optic Distributed Strain Sensors With High Spatial Resolution

In this paper, we review our researches on the topics of the structural health monitoring （SHM） with the fiber-optic distributed strain sensor. Highly-dense information on strains in a structure can be useful to identify some kind of existing damages or applied loads in implementation of SHM. The fiber-optic distributed sensors developed by the authors have been applied to the damage detection of a single-lap joint and load identification of a beam simply supported. We confirmed that the applicability of the distributed sensor to SHM could be improved as making the spatial resolution higher. In addition, we showed that the simulation technique considering both structural and optical effects seamlessly in strain measurement could be powerful tools to evaluate the performance of a sensing system and design it for SHM. Finally, the technique for simultaneous distributed strain and temperature measurement using the PANDA-fiber Bragg grating （FBG） is shown in this paper, because problems caused by the cross-sensitivity toward strain and temperature would be always inevitable in strain measurement for SHM.

Vector fiber Bragg gratings accelerometer based on silicone compliant cylinder for low frequency vibration monitoring

Vector accelerometer has attracted much attention for its great application potential in underground seismic signal measurement. We propose and demonstrate a novel vector accelerometer based on the three fiber Bragg gratings(FBGs)embedded in a silicone rubber compliant cylinder at 120° distributed uniformly. The accelerometer is capable of detecting the orientation of vibration with a range of 0°–360° and the acceleration through monitoring the central wavelength shifts of three FBGs simultaneously. The experimental results show that the natural frequency of the accelerometer is about 85 Hz, and the sensitivity is 84.21 pm/g in the flat range of 20 Hz–60 Hz. Through experimental calibration, the designed accelerometer can accurately obtain vibration vector information, including vibration orientation and acceleration. In addition, the range of resonant frequency and sensitivity can be expanded by adjusting the hardness of the silicone rubber materials. Due to the characteristics of small size and orientation recognition, the accelerometer can be applied to low-frequency vibration acceleration vector measurement in narrow spaces.

Recent Progress in Microfiber-Optic Sensors

Recently,microfiber-optic sensors with high sensitivity,fast response times,and a compact size have become an area of interest that integrates fiber optics and nanotechnology.Distinct advantages of optical microfiber,such as large accessible evanescent fields and convenient configurability,provide attractive benefits for micro-and nano-scale optical sensing.Here,we review the basic principles of microfiber-optic sensors based on a broad range of microstructures,nanostructures,and functional materials.We also introduce the recent progress and state-of-the-art in this field and discuss the limitations and opportunities for future development.