Stretch-tuning optical fiber Bragg gratings using macro-fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric actuators

Sidney G. Allison; Qamar A. Shams; Demetris L. Geddis

doi:10.1117/12.631191

10 November 2005 Stretch-tuning optical fiber Bragg gratings using macro-fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric actuators

Sidney G. Allison, Qamar A. Shams, Demetris L. Geddis

Proceedings Volume 6004, Fiber Optic Sensor Technology and Applications IV; 60040C (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.631191
Event: Optics East 2005, 2005, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

The demand for high safety and reliability standards for aerospace vehicles has resulted in time-consuming periodic on-ground inspections. These inspections usually call for the disassembling and reassembling of the vehicle, which can lead to damage or degradation of structures or auxiliary systems. In order to increase aerospace vehicle safety and reliability while reducing the cost of inspection, an on-board real-time structural health monitoring sensing system is required. There are a number of systems that can be used to monitor the structures of aerospace vehicles. Fiber optic sensors have been at the forefront of the health monitoring sensing system research. Most of the research has been focused on the development of Bragg grating-based fiber optic sensors. Along with the development of fiber Bragg grating sensors has been the development of a grating measurement technique based on the principle of optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), which enables the interrogation of hundreds of low reflectivity Bragg gratings. One drawback of these measurement systems is the 1 - 3 Hz measurement speed, which is limited by commercially available tunable lasers. The development of high-speed fiber stretching mechanisms to provide high rate tunable Erbium-doped optical fiber lasers can alleviate this drawback. One successful approach used a thin-layer composite unimorph ferroelectric driver and sensor (THUNDER) piezoelectric actuator, and obtained 5.3-nm wavelength shift. To eliminate the mechanical complexity of the THUNDER actuator, the research reported herein uses the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator to tune Bragg grating based optical fibers.

Citation Download Citation

Sidney G. Allison, Qamar A. Shams, and Demetris L. Geddis "Stretch-tuning optical fiber Bragg gratings using macro-fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric actuators", Proc. SPIE 6004, Fiber Optic Sensor Technology and Applications IV, 60040C (10 November 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.631191

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available