A fiber optic microbend sensor for distributed sensing application in the structural strain monitoring

A fiber optic microbend sensor with an elastic, arched sensing diaphragm ha s been developed for structural strain measurement. The combination of mult iple microbend sensors can form a sensor array for the quasi-distributed se nsing application in the monitoring of local strain or deformation along st ructures, and the optical time domain reflectometry can be conveniently use d fur interrogation of each sensor unit. The sensor sensitivity can be set at a specific value according to the requirements of the measurement condit ion. Connected with multiplexed sensing processing schemes, the sensor arra y may find an application in the real-time monitoring and damage detection of large and critical engineering structures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A . All rights reserved.