Realization of an on-line fiber-optic bending loss measurement system

In this paper, an on-line bending loss measurement system is studied and realized. To avoid complicated calculation of fiber bending loss, we propose a simplified theoretical model for on-line evaluation. A specific fiber adaptor is developed for light signal feeding and picking up through a free space optical fiber coupling technique. Relevant factors, including free space fiber misalignment, are considered. The signal-to-noise ratio of the whole system is improved by optimizing the spatial perturbation length of the fiber and the deformation of the bending fiber. The use of an on-line monitoring technique for measuring the bending loss of optical fibers is presented in this paper. With this technique, manufacturing efficiency can be improved, and the cost of maintaining fiber quality control can be reduced.     

利用WDM光纤耦合器的光纤光栅传感解调技术

根据 WDM 光纤耦合器波长解调方案的工作原理、偏振特性以及影响系统波长分辨力的因素,提出一种改进的利用 WDM 光纤耦合器的光纤光栅传感解调技术。该技术在原技术的基础上,采用偏振控制器控制入射光偏振状态,提高了解调的精度和稳定性。对 WDM 光纤耦合器的多次波长扫描结果表明,采用偏振控制器后,其波长误差可减小到 5pm 左右。实验采用 1540/1560nm的 WDM 光纤耦合器对单点光纤光栅应变传感器进行静态解调,结果表明:按此技术开发的解调系统具有 0.01nm 波长分辨力和 10nm 的波长线性解调范围。     

Measuring temperature profiles in high-power optical fiber components

We demonstrate a new method for measuring changes in temperature distribution caused by coupling a high-power laser beam into an optical fiber and by splicing two fibers. The measurement technique is based on interrogating a fiber Bragg grating by using low-coherence spectral interferometry. A large temperature change is found owing to coupling of a high-power laser into a multimode fiber and to splicing of two multimode fibers. Measurement of the temperature profile rather than the average temperature along the grating allows study of the cause of fiber heating. The new measurement technique enables us to monitor in real time the temperature profile in a fiber without the affecting system operation, and it might be important for developing and improving the reliability of high-power fiber components.     

Rangeability extension of fiber-optic low-coherence measurement based on cascaded multistage fiber delay line

We demonstrate a simple method to extend the measurable fiber length with a fiber-optic low-coherence technique. This method is based on a cascaded structure of multistage fiber delay line laid in one arm of the low-coherence technique. By choosing different individual stages in the cascaded fiber delay line, the length of the fiber under test can be continuously measured with a different measurement range. The measurement range of 0.81 km and spatial resolution of 60 μm are successfully realized.     

Microelectromechanical system pressure sensor integrated onto optical fiber by anodic bonding

Optical microelectromechanical system pressure sensors based on the principle of Fabry-Perot interferometry have been developed and fabricated using the technique of silicon-to-silicon anodic bonding. The pressure sensor is then integrated onto an optical fiber by a novel technique of anodic bonding without use of any adhesives. In this anodic bonding technique we use ultrathin silicon of thickness 10 microm to bond the optical fiber to the sensor head. The ultrathin silicon plays the role of a stress-reducing layer, which helps the bonding of an optical fiber to silicon having conventional wafer thickness. The pressure-sensing membrane is formed by 8 microm thick ultrathin silicon acting as a membrane, thus eliminating the need for bulk silicon etching. The pressure sensor integrated onto an optical fiber is tested for static response, and experimental results indicate degradation in the fringe visibility of the Fabry-Perot interferometer. This effect was mainly due to divergent light rays from the fiber degrading the fringe visibility. This effect is demonstrated in brief by an analytical model.     

Identification of Fiber Breakage in Fiber Reinforced Plastic by Low-Amplitude Filtering of Acoustic Emission Data

A new low-amplitude filtering technique has been developed for the identification of fiber breakage in fiber reinforced plastics from acoustic emission data. In this approach, the acoustic emission hits associated with fiber breakage are separated from the hits associated with other failure mechanisms by filtering out the low amplitude hits from the measured data. The lowest remaining amplitude upon the cumulative plot of the remaining hits vs. load coinciding with the cumulative signal strength vs. load plot is taken as the borderline between fiber breakage hits and non-fiber breakage hits. Experiments were conducted on unidirectional-fiber specimens and complex-fiber specimens to examine the efficacy of the proposed technique. Evaluation of the experimental results by visual inspection and extensive scanning electron microscope studies verifies the low-amplitude filtering technique as a reliable tool for identifying fiber breakage in fiber reinforced plastics.     

Reliability evaluation of automated analysis, 2D scanner,and micro-tomography methods for measuring fiber dimensions in polymer-lignocellulosic fiber composites

Composite processing strongly affects the size of lignocellulosic fibers, and consequently the mechanical properties of the final product. Using a reliable method for the analysis of fiber length and diameter distributions is thus crucial for the understanding of fiber behavior during processing. In this study, three different techniques, X-ray microtomography, 2D scanning and automated fiber analyzer, were compared in terms of their reliability for the characterization of dimensions of two kinds of lignocellulosic fibers, hemp and miscanthus, in polymer-natural fiber composites. Statistical analysis was employed to interpret fiber size distributions. The study confirmed that interpreting the dimensions of natural fiber is still a difficult task. The inherent limitations of the measuring methods make each technique complementary to the others in terms of length scale. The choice of the technique is, therefore, strictly dependent on fiber dimensions and the aim of the work.     

Bandwidth estimation for multimode optical fibers using the frequency correlation function of speckle patterns

In this paper we present a new method for estimating the bandwidth of multimode optical fibers based on the frequency correlation function of the speckle patterns generated by the interference of fiber modes. This technique, which does not require a pulse or signal generator, can be utilized to estimate the bandwidth of a multimode fiber using a relatively short length of fiber. By applying this method to a test fiber we obtained a bandwidth of approximately 36 MHz km which is in relatively good agreement with the approximately 44-MHz x km bandwidth measured by a conventional pulsed technique.     

基于光束扫描方法制作取样光栅的实验研究

报道了一种基于光束扫描方法采用普通均匀相位模板和连续的 2 4 4nm倍频氩离子激光器 ,制作波长间隔为 0 .8nm和 1.6nm取样光栅的新技术 ,并对得到的实验结果进行了分析。研制的取样光栅波长间隔均匀 ,具有良好的谱特性。采用的方法操作简单、灵活 ,可方便地制作不同类型的取样光栅。     

Fusion splicing of polarization preserving fibers

A novel technique is developed to detect any principal axis misalignment of polarization preserving fiber. The technique is based on measurement of reflect-returned power for the fiber oputput endface that is depolarized by the birefringence of the fiber. It is confirmed theoretically and experimentally that principal axis alignments of 0 and 45 degrees can be successfully made only by minimizing and maximizing the monitoring level, respectively. On the basis of the alignment method, a fusion splicing technique is proposed for polarization preserving fibers. It is confirmed theoretically and experimentally that all principal axes alignment, core axis alignment, and splices loss estimations can be simply and sequentially attained with the present technique. Using the technique, +/-0.5 degree angular alignment resolution and +/-0.05-dB splice loss estimation accuracy are satisfactorily achieved.     

Finite difference solution of steady state creep deformations in a short fiber composite in presence of fiber/matrix debonding

A finite difference technique is developed to predict the second stage creep displacement rates and stress analysis of a short fiber metal matrix composite subjecting to a constant axial load through a micromechanical approach. The technique is capable to take into account the presence of interfacial debonding as one of the main factors affecting the creep performance of short fiber composites. The exponential law is adopted to describe the matrix creep behavior. Also, a model for prediction of interfacial debonding at fiber/matrix interface is developed using a stress based method. The obtained results could greatly help to better understand the flow pattern of matrix material and the load transfer mechanism between fiber and matrix with and without the presence of interfacial debond. The predicted strain rate by the proposed approach exhibits good agreement with the experimental results.     

The generation and detection of longitudinal guided waves in thin fibers using a conical transformer

This paper describes a technique to couple ultrasonic energy from a piezoceramic disc transducer into a fiber waveguide to induce longitudinal propagation. A polymer cone is utilized to bond the fiber waveguide onto the surface of the disc and to behave as a mechanical transformer, converting lateral displacements at its base into longitudinal displacements at its apex. Wideband finite element analysis (FEA) results are provided to show that the bond efficiently couples the radial modes of a disc transducer into fiber waveguides for longitudinal mode excitation. Furthermore, narrowband FEA is utilized to investigate how the geometry and material properties of the bond and waveguide influence the coupling efficiency. The technique is then quantified in terms of signal-to-coherent noise ratio (SCNR), reflecting its ability to generate the desired longitudinal waveguide mode and reject erroneous modes. Finally, design parameters are outlined for the successful implementation of this technique     

碳纤维复合材料界面结构的形貌与尺寸的表征

为了准确测定碳纤维增强树脂基复合材料界面结构的形貌和尺寸, 本文中介绍了一种原位纳米力学动态模量成像技术, 并采用该方法对碳纤维增强热固性树脂基复合材料进行了测试, 对该技术在界面结构测试上的参数设置、 数据处理方法以及适用性等方面进行了分析。研究表明, 该方法的横向分辨率可以达到纳米尺度, 适于测量界面尺寸在纳米级别的碳纤维复合材料界面形貌与尺寸。对于碳纤维/环氧树脂和碳纤维/双马树脂体系, 界面区的储能模量呈梯度变化, 根据储能模量成像图的统计分析可得到界面的形貌和厚度。所得界面平均厚度在100nm左右, 横截面上界面形貌呈不均匀的“河流状”, 并与碳纤维表面形貌相似。      

Characterization of fiber orientation in short fiber reinforced composites with an image processing technique

An experimental method is developed to measure the three-dimensional fiber orientation in short fiber reinforced composites by utilizing an image processing technique. The second order orientation tensor can be calculated with geometrical data that were obtained from two parallel planar cross-sections. The orientation state of individual fibers is determined from the geometry of the elliptical cross-sectional shape on the polished surface. The basic concept in determining the three-dimensional fiber orientation tensor is to slice the composite sample twice in the same direction within a small distance. The tensor is determined by using a digital image processing technique and a computational code which calculates the tensor from the geometrical characteristics obtained for the elliptical fiber cross-sections. Experiments are performed to measure the three-dimensional orientation tensor of composite specimens and good results are obtained by using the method proposed in this study Electronic Publication     

Thermal characteristics of optical pulse transit time delay and fiber strain in a single-mode optical fiber cable

Thermal characteristics of optical pulse transit time delay and fiber strain in a single-mode optical fiber cable are investigated theoretically and experimentally. Measurements of the transit time delay shift are made by a spatial interference technique using a 1.5-in long fiber, six-fiber unit, and cable. Experimental results for a jacketed fiber whose fiber axis is well centered in nylon coating are in good agreement with those predicted from the theory. A jacketed fiber whose fiber axis is positioned eccentrically from the jacket center exhibits a small change in fiber strain at low temperature due to fiber buckling compared with that for the well-centered jacketed fiber. The loss increase for the off-centered jacketed fiber is explained by the buckling model. Furthermore, thermal characteristics of the unit-type cable examined here are found to coincide with those for the constituent six-fiber unit.     

Interferometric optical time-domain reflectometry for distributed optical-fiber sensing

The technique of optical time-domain reflectometry is analyzed to determine the effect of an optical phase modulation on light backscattered in an optical fiber. It is shown that the spatial distribution along the fiber of an external phase modulation can be measured with a spatial resolution close to that of optical time-domain reflectometry. A distributed interferometric sensor arrangement that employs this technique is investigated experimentally, and a satisfactory interrogation of more than 1000 resolution intervals is demonstrated.     

荧光光纤传感器测量系统实现

光纤是20世纪的重要发明之一，它与激光器、半导体探测器等一起构成了新的光学技术。本文阐述了作为现代测量技术中利用荧光光纤传感器进行测量的技术，并着重介绍了荧光光纤传感器测量系统的结构、功能及实际的应用。     

Evaluation of interfacial strength between fiber and matrix based on cohesive zone modeling

This paper presents a measurement technique of interfacial strength considering non-rigid bonding on a fiber/matrix interface modeled as a cohesive surface. By focusing on the stress concentration near a fiber crack obtained from a single-fiber fragmentation test, the stress contours in matrix observed by photoelasticity can be related to the interfacial strength by defining a characteristic length. An equation expressing the relationship between the characteristic length on the stress contour and the interfacial strength was derived, and validated using finite element analysis. The primary advantage of proposed measurement technique is that only a single fiber crack, which usually occurs within elastic deformation of matrix, is required for the evaluation of interfacial strength, whereas saturated fiber fragmentation is necessary in the conventional method. Herein, a sample application was demonstrated using a single carbon fiber and epoxy specimen, and an average interfacial strength of 23.8 MPa was successfully obtained.     

Dual random phase encoding: a temporal approach for fiber optic applications

We analyze the dual random phase encoding technique in the temporal domain to evaluate its potential application for secure data transmission in fiber optic links. To take into account the optical fiber multiplexing capabilities, the noise content of the signal is restricted when multiple channels are transmitted over a single fiber optic link. We also discuss some mechanisms for producing encoded time-limited as well as bandwidth-limited signals and a comparison with another recently proposed technique is made. Numerical simulations have been carried out to analyze the system performance. The results indicate that this multiplexing encryption method could be a good alternative compared with other well-established methods.     

Miniature fiber-optic pressure sensor with a polymer diaphragm

The fabrication and experimental investigation of a miniature optical fiber pressure sensor for biomedical and industrial applications are described. The sensor measures only 125 microm in diameter. The essential element is a thin polymer diaphragm that is positioned inside the hollow end of an optical fiber. The cavity at the fiber end is made by a simple and effective micromachining process based on wet etching in diluted HF acid. Thus a Fabry-Perot interferometer is formed between the inner fiber-cavity interface and the diaphragm. The fabrication technique is described in detail. Different sensor prototypes were fabricated upon 125 microm-diameter optical fiber that demonstrated pressure ranges from 0 to 40 and from 0 to 1200 kPa. A resolution of less than 10 Pa was demonstrated in practice. The fabrication technique presented facilitates production of simple and low-cost disposable pressure sensors by use of materials with that ensure the required biocompatibility.