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Vibration Detection Using Optical Fiber Sensors

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DOI: 10.1155/2010/936487 · Source: DOAJ

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Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Journal of Sensors
Volume 2010, Article ID 936487, 12 pages
doi:10.1155/2010/936487

Review Article
Vibration Detection Using Optical Fiber Sensors

Yoany Rodrı́guez Garcı́a,1 Jesús M. Corres,2 and Javier Goicoechea2

1 Telecommunication Department, Pinar del Rı́o University, Av. Martı́ 270, Pinar del Rı́o, Cuba
2 Electric
and Electronic Engineering Department, Edif. Los Tejos, Campus Arrosadı́a, Public University of Navarra,
31006 Pamplona, Spain

Correspondence should be addressed to Yoany Rodrı́guez Garcı́a, [email protected]

Received 1 March 2010; Revised 24 May 2010; Accepted 5 July 2010

Academic Editor: Ignacio Matias

Copyright © 2010 Yoany Rodrı́guez Garcı́a et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons
Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is
properly cited.

Condition monitoring of heavy electromechanical equipment is commonly accomplished in the industry using vibration analysis.
Several techniques, mainly based on capacitive and piezoelectric accelerometers, have been applied for predictive maintenance.
However, the negative influence of the electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be a real problem when electrical signals are used
to detect and transmit physical parameters in noisy environments such as electric power generator plants with high levels of EMI.
Optical fiber sensors are increasingly used because of the nonelectrical nature of signals. In this paper, the most frequently used
vibration optical fiber sensors will be reviewed, classifying them by the sensing techniques and measurement principles. The main
techniques, intensity modulation, fiber bragg gratings and Fabry-Pérot Interferometry, will be reviewed here.

1. Introduction their working principles. In Figure 1 a general classification

of vibration sensors is shown: intensity-based sensors (IBSs)
Since a few decades ago, fiber optic sensors technology are those in which intensity is modulated by an external
has experimented a revolution by the hand of fiber optic parameter; Fabry-Pérot interferometers (FPIs) are passive
telecommunication product outgrowths with optoelectronic optical structures that utilize multiple-beam interference in
devices [1–4]. These new areas of opportunities include the a cavity between two semireflective surfaces. Fiber bragg
potential of replacing the majority of environmental sensors gratings (FBG) are fabricated using a longitudinal periodic
in existence today, as well as opening up entire markets where perturbation of the refractive index of the core of an optical
sensors with comparable capability do not exist. These new fiber. In this paper this three measurement principles will be
technologies, combined with advances in optical transducers, analyzed.
have enabled remote vibration monitoring using compact
portable instrument packages in highly localized parts of
electrical machinery with inherent electrical isolation, supe- 2. Intensity-Based Vibration Sensors
rior dielectric properties, and immunity to electromagnetic
interference [2, 3]. In addition, optical fiber sensors can Intensity-based sensor techniques have been studied and
offer noncontact, perturbation-free means of monitoring as implemented in the last 25 years (see Figure 2). A wide range
they provide a new approach to vibration monitoring in of configurations can be used, such as fiber microbending,
electromechanical equipment. fiber-to-fiber coupling, moving masks/gratings, and modi-
Fiber optic sensors can be generally classified in two fied cladding [6, 10–17].
groups: extrinsic (fiber optic sensors distinguished by the These sensors can be classified into two broad categories
characteristic that sensing takes place in a region outside if physical contact with the vibrating object exists or not.
the fiber) and intrinsic (fiber optic sensors characterized by Usually noncontact structures use a reflective signal to detect
the fact that sensing takes place within the fiber itself) [4– displacement or vibration while the other structures (i.e.,
9]. However, optical fiber sensors also can be classified by microbending) use the transmissive configuration.
2 Journal of Sensors

As a general rule, in the intensity-based sensor structure configuration and reflective surfaces outside of the mea-
the light intensity from the source is modulated by the trans- sure system often impact the final measurement accuracy.
ducing device; then it is guided to the detector, translated to Fortunately, referencing for source-intensity fluctuations is
electronic signals, and adequately processed [9] as shown in relatively easy to implement
Figure 3. Recently, Perrone and Vallan [12] presented a high-
In many cases, it is necessary to have a referencing mech- resolution and cheap optical sensor (using plastic optical
anism in order to maintain the sensor calibrated. Without fibers) to measure vibrations of up to several tens of
this referencing mechanism, optical power fluctuations due KHz by using an intensity-detection scheme followed by
to the source, couplers, connectors, or any other optical a nondemanding data processing to compensate for the
components in the system can introduce significant relative vibrating surface reflectivity and measurement chain gains.
errors. In some cases, digital communication techniques In this sensor, one fiber is used to transmit the light whereas
such as code division multiple access (CDMA) or spread the other fiber collects the light rejected by the target
spectrum techniques (SSTs) can reduce noise impact [6, 10– whose vibrations s(t) have to be measured. The received
15]. signal is processing after the photo detector conversion.
The experimental setup used by Perrone et al. is shown in
Figure 8.
2.1. Microbend Structure. The microbend sensor was one of Those intensity-based sensors are usually low cost and
the earliest Intensity-based sensors to be developed [16–18]. versatile structures. Even the particular in reflective exper-
The detection principle is based on the change of transmitted imental setups of those sensors allows them to be used in
power as a function of pressure/stress. Basically, in this noncontact applications.
structure, the light intensity decreases by the losses caused
by the induced microcurvatures (see Figure 4).
The deformation causes a coupling of the optical power 3. Fabry-Pérot Interferometers
from the core-guided modes to higher order radiation Fabry-Pérot interferometers are optical structures that utilize
modes; these modes are attenuated by the surrounding multiple-beam interference in a cavity between two semi-
medium. reflective surfaces.
Both multimode and single-mode fibers have been used In the last three decades, a lot of applications of this struc-
for the constructions of these sensors [19]. While multimode ture have been developed, supported by an extraordinary
microbend sensors show the maximum sensitivity when the explosion of optical communication and the use of optical
bending frequency is equal to the difference in propagation fiber as transmission guide and measurement material. The
constants for the propagating and radiation modes [20], in evolution of this optical structure as vibration sensor can be
single-mode optical fiber microbend sensors, the maximum seen in Figure 9.
sensitivity is achieved when the spatial bend frequency equals The basic structure of the Fabry-Pérot optical sensors
the difference between the propagation constants of the is based in two plane and parallel surfaces with partial
fundamental mode and a discrete cladding mode [21]. reflectivity so that multiple rays of light are responsible for
An example of this technique has been reported by creation of the observed interference patterns.
Pandey and Yadav in [22]. They used a microbending sensor In order to obtain an in-fiber Fabry Pérot sensor (IFFPI)
placed into a construction panel to detect pressure and partial mirror-surfaces have to be created inside the fiber, as
deformation. The calibration of this sensor was made in shown Figure 10. This sensor can be built by using chemical
laboratory conditions, therefore the output optical power processes or by fusion currents.
was directly related with the pressure applied to the sensor, The general theory behind the other interferometers still
see Figure 5. applies to the Fabry-Pérot model; however, these multi-
ple reflections reinforce the areas where constructive and
destructive effects occur making the resulting fringes much
2.2. Noncontact Displacement Intensity-Based Sensor. Non- more clearly defined [31–34].
contact dynamic displacement sensors are commonly used The reflectance ratio of reflected irradiance Ir to incident
for vibration detection. A reflective scheme is used to detect irradiance Ii is periodic with the round-trip phase ϕ,
vibrations where one fiber is used as an emitter source and difference between beams, as shown in
one or more fibers are used as collectors (Figure 6). The
reflection from the surrounding surfaces near the target can  
be minimized using data treatment techniques [10, 12]. Ir F sin2 ϕ/2
=  , (1)
An example of this configuration is shown in Figure 7. Ii 1 + F sin2 ϕ/2
Binu et al. [23] developed a simple, rugged, and low-cost
noncontact IBS using two PMMA cemented fibers. The main where the surface reflectivity R of the cavity surfaces
advantage of this configuration is the low cost of fabrication determines the cavity finesse F.
of the sensor and transducer. The finesse is defined as
However, although intensity-based fiber optic sensors are
easy to build, a significant error can be introduced due to 4R
F= . (2)
changes in the light source power. Losses due to physical (1 − R)2
Journal of Sensors 3

Optical fiber sensors for vibration measurement

Intensity based sensors Fiber bragg gratings Fabry-Pérot interferometer

General fiber bragg In-fibre Fabry-Pérot

Non-contact IBS grating structure (FBG) interferometer (IFFPI)

Extrinsic fiber Fabry-Pérot

Micro-bending IBS
interferometer (EFFPI)

Figure 1: Vibration optical fiber sensors classification.

Vibration IBS evolution External forces

20
Number of publications

Light in Light out

15

10 Optical fiber External deformers

Figure 4: Microbends sensor structure.

5

Pressure
0
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010

(year)
Laser Sample Photodyne
Figure 2: Evolution of vibration intensity-based sensor, (source photometer/
Microscopic radiometer
database: Scopus). objective 88 × LA

Figure 5: Setup of embedded fiber-optic microbend sensor for

measurement of high pressure and crack detection. (reproduced
Signal processing
from [22] with permission of Elsevier).

Many of these interferometers suffer the common problem of

Detector Light source
directional ambiguity in fringe motion when the measured
target changes direction since the output interference signals
are cosinusoidal in nature [35, 36]. General solutions
include additional or multiple interrogating cavities, mul-
Light intensity tiple wavelength and quadrature phase-shifting techniques.
modulating device The interference fringes are detected as an electrical signal
and feedback into a comparator circuit to generate the
desired quadrature condition.
In extrinsic version of the Fabry-Pérot interferometer
Perturbing field (measurand) (EFFPI), the optical cavity is external to the fiber [37–40].
The alignment of the fiber end faces is maintained by a
Figure 3: Configuration for intensity modulation systems. bonded capillary tube or can be placed one in front of the
other. In this case, a coherent source is necessary to avoid
4 Journal of Sensors

Fabry-Pérot vibration sensor evolution

15

Number of publications
Reflective surface

Emitter fiber
10

Receiver fiber
5

0
Object in movement

1988

1990

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010
Figure 6: Configuration for dynamic displacement intensity-based
sensor. (year)

Figure 9: Evolution of Fabry-Pérot vibrations sensors (source

database: Scopus).
Transmitting fibre Receving fibre

Fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometer

Dynamic Light source Light flow Detector

Fibre optic Photodiode
transmitter signal
detector
analyser
Optical fiber

Fibre optic probe Partial mirror Partial mirror

Figure 10: General structure of in-fiber Fabry-Pérot interferome-

ters.
Micro displacement
meter

excessive power losses. As the substrate and the attached

Reflective surface tube are strained, the reflected interference signal varies in
response to the changes in cavity spacing (see Figure 11).
More sophisticated configurations of extraordinary sen-
sitivity have been developed using fiber brag gratings work-
Power ing as mirrors [41]. In the next sections several selected
Mini shaker amplifier
examples will be analyzed.

3.1. Extrinsic Fiber Fabry Pérot Interferometer Vibrations

Function
generator Sensors. Although multiple sensor applications have been
reported using the FPI sensor signals directly, as it has
Figure 7: Schematic experimental setup of fiber optic displacement been previously described, some other applications can be
sensor for the measurement of vibrational frequency (reproduced significantly improved using signal processing techniques
from [23] with permission of Elsevier). in the electrical domain. One example of this is shown
in Figure 12. In this structure, a configuration of multiple
fringe and nonsinusoidal signals obtained from a fiber-optic
vibration sensor using an extrinsic Fabry-Pérot Interfer-
d za ometer is presented by Gangopadhyay et al. [24]. In this
configuration, a wavelength transform- (WT-) based signal
vL (t)
processing methodology was employed to count optical
LED
fringes. WT-based tool was developed by the authors for
Target

vR (t) unambiguous identification of frequency components from

PD a nonsinusoidal vibration situation of multiple fringes and
2wa Front view complex frequency measurements.
Some Fabry-Pérot sensors need to be previously cali-
s(t) brated prior to use, as it is described in [42]. In this work, it
Figure 8: Plastic optical fiber sensor setup [12]. was showed a feasible method to calibrate the PVDF strain
sensor using four points from the Bessel harmonics of a
Journal of Sensors 5

Capillary tube

Incident light
Reflected signal Optical fiber Optical fiber

Cavity

Figure 11: Extrinsic Fabry-Pérot interferometers, based in capillary tube.

GRIN lens R1 R2
Light through
one optical fiber d
Iin Reflective mirror
Iout surface

Multiple
reflections in
air cavity
Laser diode
Index Movement of
matching gel Ray optics inside reflector
GRIN lens
Fiber

3 dB fused single-mode
Optical fiber coupler Piezo
signal Partial mirror osc.
detector y x (Al2 O3 coating)
Cathode ray
oscilloscope

Intensity Programmable
function
generator
Frequency

Figure 12: Schematic of a reflective EFPI sensor connected with one fiber and measurement system. (reproduced from [24] with permission
of IEEE).

Laser diode Pullteap et al. [25] presented a modified fringe-counting

1310 nm technique applied to a dual-cavity fiber Fabry-Pérot vibra-
Retro-reflector
Retarder tion meter. The scheme of the structure is shown in
(Upper arm)
Vibrator
Figure 13, where continuous series of interference signals
Collimator
1 × 2 fiber can be processed for fringe-counting. The main advantage
coupler
(Sensing arm)
of such a technique is the increased resolution, which can
(Lower arm)
50/50 PBS be obtained without further complicated signal process-
Reference sensor ing schemes, because it allows calculating the crossover
Digital
Collimator oscilloscope points and integrate the interference peaks in the algorithm
Function due to the stable optically generated quadrature condition
generator employed.
Photodetector 2
Photodetector 1

Figure 13: Schematic diagram of the dual-cavity fiber Fabry-Pérot

3.2. In-Fiber Fabry Pérot Interferometer Vibrations Sensors.
interferometer for vibration analysis [25]. One of the first applications of IFFPI was presented by
Yoshino et al. [26]. In this implementation, detection of
impact vibration was done using a single mode FFPI with
70% end-reflectance. A schematic diagram of the developed
system is shown in Figure 14.
fiber optic EFPI sensor which did not required of complex Other IFFPI application was reported in 1983 by Kersey
demodulation schemes other than standard spectrum ana- et al. [43]. The experimental setup shown in Figure 15 is
lyzer capability. formed by a single-mode IFFPI with uncoated fiber ends.
6 Journal of Sensors

Microscope Mach-Zehnder Panel with

object interferometer embedded fibers
50 Hz Light
Stabilized source
He-Ne Photo- Pen
laser recorder Bragg cells
multiplier or memory
tube scope
Polarizer PZT

Figure 14: Fiber Fabry-Pérot interferometric for vibration detec-

tion. (reproduced from [9] with permission of Elsevier). Scanning FP filter

Det-1 Out RF signal recovery techniques and

heterodyning signal processing
−
Laser source + Compensator
Figure 16: Schematic of high resolution vibration measurements
Det-2 Amplifier
using wavelength demultiplexed fiber Fabry-Pérot sensors.

Lens
MASS-M L

Compliant PZT-1
cylinder PZT-2
Single drive
Hole core fiber

125 μm
12 μm core 12 μm core
50 μm
Figure 15: Setup of IFFPI with uncoated fibre ends as an Single mode Single mode
accelerometer [26]. fiber fiber

Figure 17: Fabry-Pérot interferometer formed by two SMF and a

The system had a resonance peak as low as 150 Hz with a HCF, known as in-line etalon fiber (ILFE).
limiting sensitivity of 2 × 10 − 7 g.
Christmas et al. [44] presented an implementation
of high-resolution vibrometers using wavelength de- of three phase motors under unbalanced conditions, see
multiplexed fiber Fabry-Pérot sensors. The monitoring Figure 18. This implementation showed the ILFE working
system is based on low-coherence interferometry [45]; as a spring and its deformation was registered using inter-
see Figure 16. It consists of a Mach-Zehnder interrogating ferometry of the light reflected by the mirrors of a Fabry-
interferometer (MZI) and fiber Fabry-Pérot (FFP) sensors. Pérot etalon. The photo-detector output was connected to
The fiber Fabry-Pérot cavity is formed by a pair of fiber an oscilloscope with a FFT module to show the vibration
bragg gratings (FBGs) working as mirrors with a different spectrum.
reflectivity as a function of the wavelength. To enable Fabry-Pérot interferometer provides high precision when
constant sensitivity detection and the use of conventional RF measuring real-time surface vibrations. Some techniques
signal recovery techniques, heterodyning signal processing such as wavelength division and transmitted and received
was adopted. optical signal can be used to obtain excellent relation with
Another IFFP sensor is formed by two portions of single displacement, strain and vibration measurement.
mode fibers (SMF) fused to be a hole-core fiber (HCF) Fabry-Pérot interferometer can be classified as one of the
forming a Fabry-Pérot cavity being the end of each SMF the most sensitive structures in the area of optical fiber sensors.
mirrors of the interferometer [9, 27, 36]; this structure is In this section, we have tried to show the wide range of
known as In-line Fiber Etalon or ILFE, Figure 17. experimental setups and applications that can be achieved
Several applications have been developed using the using this optical structure. The main issues that can affect
principle of Fabry-Pérot applied to ILFE. The equation that this structure are related to the fabrication of the mirrors,
governs this structure shows the relationship between the whose imperfections and alignment errors can reduce the
optical reflected power and cavity deformation sensor accuracy.
 
4π ∗ L ∗ ε
RDH = A ∗ 1 + V ∗ cos , (3) 4. Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
λ
where A and V are constants that represent the amplitude Fiber bragg gratings (FGBs) are optical fiber devices that
and visibility of the sensor, λ is the wavelength of the optical consist in a longitudinal periodic perturbation of the refrac-
source, L is the cavity length, and ε is the unitary deformation tive index of the core of an optical fiber. Such periodic
of the cavity [27]. variation of the optical properties of the fiber confers to it
Using this scheme, in [27], it was demonstrated that it unique optical properties that make these devices ideal for
can be applied for the detection of steady state performance optical sensing applications. In fact, since the first permanent
Journal of Sensors 7

Laser source

SMF
SMF

Photodetector Fiber-optic
Plezoelectric ILFE
SMF coupler 2 × 1
accelerometer
Amplifier

ILFE mounting
Oscilloscope Stator
FFT
Router Load

3 phase
IGBT bridge

Motion control
DSP card

Figure 18: Schematic diagram of the transducer calibration system using in-line etalon fiber, (ILFE) (reproduced from [27] with permission
of IEEE).

800
Vibration FBG sensors evolution embed into composite materials [50] or concrete [51], or
their dense wavelength multiplexing capability that makes
700 possible multipoint sensing in complicated civil structures
such as bridges or highways [52, 53]. Also, this structure can
Number of publications

600
be used to simultaneous measurement of several parameters
500
such as temperature or humidity [54–60] and vibrations
400 using wavelength multiplexing techniques.
300

200 4.1. Fiber Bragg Gratings: Working Principle. The optical

100 properties of an FBG device arise from a series of partial
reflectors arranged with a determined spatial period. In
0 the optical fiber FBG, such reflectors are fabricated by
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010

altering the refractive index of the core of the optical fiber

in a periodic manner, creating dielectric partial mirrors,
(year)
and consequently a series of interferences occurs as the
Figure 19: Evolution of FBG vibration sensors (source database: light travels through the device. In consequence, certain
Scopus). wavelengths which have a constant relation with the period
of the refractive index perturbation experiment a strong
transmission blockage. Such wavelengths are reflected by the
FBG structure, while the device keeps unaltered the rest of
in-line grating was reported in 1978 [46, 47], more and the wavelengths, therefore the FBG acts as a wavelength selec-
more scientific groups have devoted their research in such tive reflector. This can be schematically seen in Figure 20.
devices. In fact, the number of reported works related with Fiber bragg gratings are created by “inscribing” or
vibrations using FBGs have grown significantly since 1994, “writing” the periodic variation of refractive index into the
(see Figure 19) although the first strain and temperature core of a special type of optical fiber using an intense
sensor was presented in 1988 [48, 49]. ultraviolet (UV) source such as a UV laser [61–63]. A special
One of the most valuable properties of FBGs is their germanium-doped silica fiber is used in the manufacture
strong dependence of the resonance peak on very small of FBG because it is photosensitive, and it is possible to
variations of the Bragg period which makes them ideal for induce refractive index shifts in areas exposed to strong
strain sensing [48, 49]. They also have additional advantages, UV radiation. Consequently, the FBGs are fabricated by
for example, their small size that makes them suitable to exposing them to a very regular UV pattern. Such patterns
8 Journal of Sensors

Fibre bragg gratings

n 3 dB coupler
ncore Broadband
source
ncladding ΛB FBG1 FBG2 FBGn
Core’s refractive

Spectrum analyser
index profile

ΛB Photodetector
n
ncore
A1 A2 An

Figure 22: Experimental setup arranged for interrogating FBG

λB multi-sensor systems using WDM. (Reproduced from [28] with

Transmission
Reflection

Permission of Elsevier).
Input

λ λ λB λ
The wavelength spacing between the first minima (nulls),
Figure 20: Schematic structure of a fiber bragg grating. The or the bandwidth (Δλ), is given by
periodic variation of the core’s refractive index causes the selective  
reflection of certain wavelengths, related with the FBG period. 2δn0 η
Δλ = λB , (4)
π

where δn0 is the variation in the refractive index (n − ncore )

(Figure 20) and η is the fraction of power in the core. The
PB (λB )
typical reflectance response of an FBG is shown in Figure 21.
A detailed description of FBG model can be found in [64].
Fiber bragg gratings can be used as direct sensing
Reflected power [PB (λ)]

elements for strain, but also have uses in instrumenta-

tion applications such as seismology, pressure sensors for
extremely harsh environment, and as downhole sensors in
oil and gas wells for measurement of the effects of external
pressure, temperature, seismic vibrations, and inline flow
measurement.
One of the main advantages of FBG devices is their
suitability for sensor network arrangements. It is not trivial
to arrange multisensor setups, and other optical devices
have strong limitations regarding the maximum number
λB Wavelength [λ] of sensors which can be integrated in an optical system
Δλ (high intensity losses, etc.) In this sense, FBGs can be
easily integrated in a multi-sensor arrangement, and the
Figure 21: FBGs reflected power as a function of wavelength. system can be interrogated using time-division multiplex-
ing (TDM), frequency-division multiplexing (FDM), or
wavelength-division multiplexing techniques (WDM) [28],
using only one light source and a single detector system,
which contribute to significantly lower the cost of the
are obtained mainly by two different processes: interference measuring system, see Figure 22.
and masking. The amount of the change in refractive index
in the fiber core is a function of the intensity and duration of 4.2. FBG Vibration Sensing Applications. As it has been
the UV light exposure. previously commented, the unique properties of FBG devices
While interference and masking are the most used make them ideal for sensing magnitudes such as strain. In
techniques for fabricating FBGs, it is possible to write them fact, the earliest sensing applications reported were strain and
point-by-point. Here, the laser has a narrow beam that temperature [48, 49]. Vibrations induce high-speed dynamic
is equal to the grating period. This method is specifically strain variations, and consequently the monitoring of the
applicable to the fabrication of long-period fiber gratings and position of the resonance FBG wavelength allows measuring
tilted gratings. those vibrations. In vibration measuring applications, the
The fundamental principle behind the operation of a bandwidth of the interrogation system is a key parameter
FBG is Fresnel reflection. Where light traveling between that strongly limits the application range of the system. In
media of different refractive indices may both reflect and order to reach high-speed interrogation rates of the FBG
refract at the interface. The grating will typically have a vibration sensors different approaches have been reported,
sinusoidal refractive index variation over a defined length. but all of them avoid the optical spectral characterization of
Journal of Sensors 9

3 dB coupler Fibre bragg gratings

Broadband
source
Isolator
P Microstrain

P1 (P1 − P2)/(P1 + P2)

Output
Wavelength P2
dependent
coupler

Figure 23: Strain and vibration measurement using an FBG sensor [28].

Sensig bragg grating

Y joint
Broadband source

PD R
VT − kVR
VT + kVR
1.2

1
Normalized intensity
0.8
Filter Filter
0.6 reflectance transmittance
Electronic unit
0.4

0.2
Optical filter 0
1545 1546.5 1548 1549.5 1551 1552.5 1554 1555.5
Reflection Wavelength (nm)
transmission
Wavelength

PD T

Figure 24: Experimental setup for dynamic strain with a single FBG [29].

the reflected light, since it takes some time and slows down to reveal the voltage directly proportional to the FBG strain.
the interrogation rate. This electronic sensing stage makes possible high-speed
The most used optical setups for high-speed interro- interrogation rates. Other setups have been reported other
gation are based in splitting two or more different wave- than approaches where the wavelength selective device is
length components of the reflected light from the FBG, replaced by an unbalanced Mach-Zender interferometer.
combined with conventional intensity-based optoelectronic One of its arms is phase-modulated via a ber-stretching
detectors. This passive differential light intensity measure- piezoelectric device with detector feedback for phase drift
ment arrangement can reach interrogation speeds as high as compensation.
50 kHz [28]. As it has been already exposed, when a FBG A similar approach was reported by Cusano and cowork-
undergoes strain, the fiber bragg wavelength experiments ers in [29]. The reflected light from an FBG sensor is
a variation. A possible experimental setup for measuring selectively divided by an optical filter tuned with the bragg
this strain is a standard reflection setup shown in Figure 23, wavelength of the FBG, as it is shown in Figure 24. The
using broadband light source [28, 65]. The reflected bragg reflected signal from the FGB sensor is then divided in two
signal returned via a 3 dB coupler is transmitted towards a components by the optical filter, and consequently when the
wavelength-dependent coupler. Since the reflectivity of the Bragg peak is displaced due to the strain the two measured
FBG is being spectrally altered by the strain, therefore the components vary their relation with respect to the other.
signals coming from the wavelength dependent coupler will This passive arrangement of the demodulation system,
vary in intensity as the FBG is stretched. To measure those allows a full electronic interrogation; therefore, dynamic
signals, it is possible to use of simple electronic processing strain (vibrations) can be measured at high frequencies (up
10 Journal of Sensors

Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. José Raúl Vento from the Pinar del
1
Rı́o University for his support and the Spanish Agency for
International Development Cooperation (AECID) for the
Hammer opportunity that it offers to scientific exchange between
Spanish researchers and those from other countries.
FRF, SFRF

0.1
Accelerometer

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Figure 25: Response of a FBG seismic sensor [30].
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