EFFECTS AND APPLICATIONS OF NON-HOMOGENEOUS STRAINS IN BRAGG GRATINGS / EFEITOS E APLICAÇÕES DE DEFORMAÇÕES NÃO HOMOGÊNEAS EM REDES DE BRAGG

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2005

RESUMO

Fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) are modulations in the effective refractive index of optical fibers, introduced in a small length along the fiber core. Such components operate as narrow band reflective filters, that is, when illuminated by a broad-band light source, they reflect a narrow spectral band centered at a specific wavelength, the Bragg wavelength. This wavelength is proportional to the spatial period of the refractive index modulation. Fiber Bragg gratings have find an increasing number of applications as sensors for different quantities, and today are being employed as part of permanent, real time monitoring systems in various industrial segments. The oil and gas sector, together with civil infrastructure and aeronautics and aerospace, account for almost 70% of this applications. In a number of situations, FBG sensing is based on indirect measurements of the quantity being monitored, and a transduction mechanism is employed to transform changes in the measured quantity in strain sensed by the optical fiber. Since the FBG is sensitive to strain and temperature, proper temperature compensation is always necessary. Usually, a second grating is employed to simultaneously measure temperature and strain, performing the required compensation. This thesis presents a study on effects due to non- homogeneous strains in the Bragg grating and discusses application of two different techniques, based on these effects, to allow temperature compensated strain measurement using a single FBG. The first technique explores strain induced optical birefringence when the fiber is loaded transversely. The second technique is based on changes in the spectral shape of the light signal reflected by the grating when subjected to non homogeneous axial strain fields. Prototypes of pressure and temperature transducers based on these techniques have been developed. These prototypes have been designed by employing CAD techniques and modeled using the finite element method in conjunction with the theory of coupled modes for fiber Bragg gratings. Comparisons between results provided by theoretical models and experimental realizations of the prototypes are very close, demonstrating that the developed approach can be applied to design transducers based on the discussed techniques. Results obtained with the proposed pressure and temperature sensors are also encouraging indicating that the two techniques are suitable for industrial applications.

ASSUNTO(S)

materials optical fiber sensors estruturas inteligentes sensores a rede de bragg bragg grating sensor smart structures materiais sensores a fibra optica

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados