Effects of different parameters on the performance of a fiber polarimetricsensor for smart structure applications

Studies of the effects of various parameters like pre-stress, input azimuth , fiber turns etc. on the polarimetric fiber optic sensing system for smart structure applications are presented. The presence of the smart structure modifies the output characteristics of the highly birefringent fiber due to elastic properties of the structure. Experimental procedures are repealed for Single Mode and the bow-tie HiBi fibers with different optical configur ations. Both carbon fiber reinforced (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced (GFR P) specimens are studied in detail. These experimental evaluation clearly p oint out that the sensitivity of such embedded polarimetric sensors are aff ected by the above mentioned parameters. Hence these parameters are optimiz ed for making the smart sensing systems with specific objectives. Keeping t he modulated signal at the optimum sensitivity range for defect detection i n the composite laminates will also be discussed in this paper. (C) 2000 El sevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.