Photodiode-based sensor for flame sensing and combustion-process monitoring

A nonintrusive low-cost sensor based on silicon photodiode detectors has been designed to analyze the formation and behavior of excited CH(*) and C(2)(*) radicals in the combustion process by sensing the spectral emission of hydrocarbon flames. The sensor was validated by performing two sets of experiments for both nonconfined and confined flames. For a nonconfined oil flame, the sensor responses for the axial intensity were highly correlated with the measurements obtained with a radiometer. For confined gas flames the ratio between the signal corresponding to C(2)(*) and CH(*) was successfully correlated with the CO pollutant emissions and the combustion efficiency. These results give additional insight on how to prevent an incomplete combustion using spectral information. The fast response, the nonintrusive character, and the instantaneous measurement of the needed spectral information makes the proposed optical sensor a key element in the development of advanced control strategies for combustion processes.     

CMOS photodetectors for industrial position sensing

The properties of a CMOS-compatible pn-photodiode, phototransistor, and one-dimensional lateral-effect photodiode (LEP) for position-sensing applications are characterized. The photodiode and phototransistor seem to have properties that are comparable to typical commercial photodetectors despite the relatively large variations in their spatial and spectral responses and the lower responsivity in the near-infrared band. In addition to the above properties the LEP's show excellent linearity, but 3-4 times larger NEP than corresponding commercial LEP's due to low resistance of the current dividing layer. The responsivity variations have no effect on the linearity of the LEP, and the slightly lower responsivity at near-infrared has only a negligible effect on the achievable resolution (SNR). These properties, usually considered as weak points of CMOS-compatible photodetectors, are believed to have little or no effect on the properties of a position sensor, if the diameter of the light spot is small (<100 μm). CMOS-compatible photodetectors are therefore believed to be very suitable for industrial position-sensing applications     

Optical fibre-based sensors for distributed strain monitoring of asphalt pavements

Strain distribution of asphalt pavement varies in transverse and longitudinal directions, and distresses, such as cracks, ruts and settlements, often occur randomly, which can be efficiently measured by distributed optical fibre sensing technology. As bare optical fibre is weak to resist shear and torsion forces during pavement construction, the protective technique is required. Therefore, a flexible asphalt-mastic packaged optical fibre sensor was developed in this research for distributed strain monitoring of asphalt pavement. Theoretical analysis on strain transfer of the optical fibre-based sensors embedded in asphalt pavement was conducted to improve the design of the protective layer and remove the strain transfer error. Afterwards, laboratory tests on the asphalt concrete beam were carried out to validate the performance of the sensor. Finally, the proposed sensors were applied to detect the in situ performance of urban asphalt pavement under temperature and traffic loads. The results indicate that the proposed optical fibre sensor detects the distributed strain of asphalt pavement effectively, and the in situ data show significant effects of temperature and traffic loads on asphalt concrete course. This research contributes to the full-scale monitoring and health assessment of large-span pavement.     

Optical fibre sensors for health monitoring of bonded repair systems

In the aircraft industry the use of externally bonded composite repairs has become an accepted way of repairing fatigue, or corrosion, damaged metallic structural components. However, current NDI and damage assessment techniques for composite repairs are passive and generally performed on ground. The challenge is to develop new techniques utilising recent analytical and experimental tools. This report examines the use of optical fibre sensors. Optical fibres offer a means of monitoring the load transfer process in these repairs, and can therefore be used to provide an indication of the integrity of the repair. This paper describes the use of an array of fibre Bragg grating strain sensors (FBGs) for the in situ monitoring of bonded repairs to aircraft structures and, in particular, the monitoring of crack propagation beneath a repair. In this work the FBGs have been multiplexed using a combination of wavelength and spatial techniques employing a tunable Fabry–Pérot (FP) filter to track individual gratings. The multiplexed FBGs were then surface-mounted on a boron–epoxy unidirectional composite patch bonded to an aluminium component. The sensors were located so as to monitor the changing stress field associated with the propagation of a crack beneath the patch. The ability of relating experimental results to sensor readings is then confirmed using both a thermo-elastic scan of the patch and 3D finite element analysis.     

土木工程结构智能感知材料、传感器与健康监测系统

随着智能感知材料的发展,高性能传感器及其测试技术为结构智能健康监测系统的研究与发展提供了崭新的途径,结构智能健康监测已经成为诸多领域的前沿研究方向.本文重点介绍了作者近年来基于智能感知材料发展的智能传感器及土木工程结构智能健康监测系统的研究成果.主要包括光纤光栅应变和温度传感器与压电薄膜(PVDF)应变和裂缝监测传感器及其性能;无线传感器网络与无线传输技术及其性能与工程应用;碳纤维智能传感器与纤维增强-光纤光栅应变传感器及其性能;智能混凝土与智能混凝土标准应变传感器及其性能;智能健康监测系统及其工程应用.最后,介绍了我国在重大工程结构智能健康监测领域的立项情况.     

Wearable strain sensing textile based on one-dimensional stretchable and weavable yarn sensors

Flexible, wearable, and even stretchable sensors are the key components of smart electronic textiles. However, most reported flexible and wearable sensors for wearable electronics are usually fabricated in two-dimensional (2D) planar strip configurations, which cannot be properly integrated into textile structures and thus greatly degrade intrinsic properties such as the softness, flexibility, and air permeability of textiles and the aesthetic feeling of clothing. In this work, a new one-dimensional weavable strain sensing yarn consisting of an elastic polyurethane (PU) core, a conductive Ag-nanoparticles/graphene-microsheets composite sheath, and a silicone encapsulation layer was designed and fabricated through an easily manipulated protocol. Arising from the reasonable structural design and appropriate material selection, the as-fabricated strain sensor not only exhibited excellent flexibility, stretchability, and highly repeatable electromechanical stability (a repeatability error of 1.56%) but also possessed both high sensitivity (a gauge factor of nearly 500) and a relatively wide working range (0–50% applied strain) with good linearity (a correlation coefficient of 0.98). In addition, the facile, nearly all-solution-based fabrication protocol enabled the scalable production of long conductive yarns. Thus, the proper yarn length and superb mechanical properties endowed the stretchable conductive yarn with good weavability. The excellent wearability of the stretchable conductive yarn was derived from the outermost isolating, hydrophobic, and biocompatible silicone encapsulation layer. A wearable high-sensitivity strain sensing textile, fabricated by directly weaving the as-prepared yarn-based sensor, showed great potential for application to wearable textile sensors for real-time monitoring of human motions from vigorous walking to subtle and complex pronunciations.

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基于混合遗传算法的桥梁监测传感器优化布置

利用混合遗传算法(Hybrid Genetic Algorithm,HGA)对南京长江大桥的监测传感器进行优化布置,得到了考虑不同的振型阶数和不同传感器数量的优化布置方案.优化结果表明,HGA高效、稳定,具有较强的全局搜索能力,在桥梁健康监测中有着广阔的应用前景.     

Optical sensors for vapors, liquids, and biological molecules based on porous silicon technology

The sensing of chemicals and biochemical molecules using several porous silicon optical microsensors, based both on single-layer interferometers and resonant-cavity-enhanced microstructures, is reported. The operation of both families of sensors is based on the variation of the average refractive index of the porous silicon region, due to the interaction with chemical substances either in vapor or liquid state, which results in marked shifts of the device reflectivity spectra. The well established single-layer configuration has been used to test a new chemical approach based on Si-C bonds for covalent immobilization of biological molecules, as probe, in a stable way on the porous silicon surface. Preliminary results on complementary oligonucleotide recognition, based on this technique, are also presented and discussed. Porous silicon optical microcavities, based on multilayered resonating structures, have been used to detect chemical substances and, in particular, flammable and toxic organic solvents, and some hydrocarbons. The results put in evidence the high sensitivity, the reusability, and the low response time of the resonant-cavity-enhanced sensing technique. The possibility of operating at room temperature, of remote interrogation, and the absence of electrical contacts are further advantages characterizing the sensing technique.     

基于MSET和SPRT的内燃机气阀机构振动监测

提出了一种基于多元状态估计(Multivariate State Estimation Techniques,MSET)和序贯概率比检验(Sequential Probability Ratio Test,SPRT)的内燃机气阀机构振动监测方法.在该方法中,首先建立正常工况下各监测参数之间的关联模型;然后根据系统当前观测特征向量与各建模样本特征向量之间的相似性程度,使用MSET对当前观测特征向量进行估计,得到与观测特征向量相对应的估计残差;最后使用SPRT对观测特征向量的估计残差进行均值和方差检验,确定系统的工作状态.试验中,通过设置不同的气阀间隙大小来模拟内燃机气阀机构不同程度的异常工况,以整周期缸盖振动信号幅值域特征作为系统工况监测参数.试验结果表明,MSET可有效增强故障状态下的信号特征呈现,而SPRT可在较少的周期内实现内燃机气阀机构异常工况的识别,MSET和SPRT的结合有效地实现了对内燃机气阀机构异常工况的早期监测.     

面向桥梁结构健康监测的压缩感知动力响应信号重构

为了解决桥梁结构健康监测中采集海量数据带来数据传输和存储成本大的问题,引入压缩感知理论,优化常规观测矩阵,以增加观测矩阵和稀疏基的不相关性,用少量的动力响应信号采样数据恢复较为准确的原始信号。用吉安大桥的现场环境振动试验数据验证了基于压缩感知的桥梁动力响应重构方法的可行性和有效性。研究结果包括：压缩感知重构信号在时域里与原始信号吻合良好,当压缩比在20%以上时,重构信号相对误差在10%以下,优化观测矩阵重构的信号精度高于初始观测矩阵重构的信号,尤其是在低压缩比情况下,有利于减少数据的采集量;观测矩阵优化后重构信号的频谱与原始信号的频谱更加吻合,频谱出现的几个峰值均能准确对应,相比之下,初始观测矩阵重构信号的频谱出现较多峰值的误判,且有些峰值未能识别;观测矩阵优化方法可以适用于随机高斯矩阵、伯努利矩阵和稀疏随机矩阵,具有较广泛的适用范围。研究结果表明基于压缩感知的桥梁结构动力响应信号重构方法是实现用少量采样数据恢复较为准确的原始信号的有效方法。     

Two-dimensional integration of a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser and photodetectors for position sensing

Noncontact long-range position sensing is desirable for a number of applications. We have designed and fabricated a monolithically integrated vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and p-type/intrinsic/n-type (PIN) photodetectors for optical position sensing. Calculations using the reflection from a periodic metallic corrugation as a position gauge indicate resolution in the submicron regime. High device uniformity is obtained using novel fabrication techniques. We observe a threshold current of 0.52 mA for the VCSELs and a detector responsivity of 0.38 A/W at 840 nm. The optical cross talk between VCSELs and detectors is also quantified.     

基于FPGA的光纤传感解调数据处理系统

为解决目前光纤传感测试领域存在的组网测试采集量大的问题,设计并实现了一种基于FPGA的大数据量实时处理系统,详细介绍了系统的硬件构架和关键模块设计,重点描述了FPGA通过寻峰模块和交叉读写缓存模块实现大数据量的实时处理方法。在FPGA中加入寻峰模块,从大量光谱数据中选取有效数据,减少传输的数据量,并通过交叉读写缓存保证数据传输的连续性,将筛选后的有效数据发送至上位机。通过实验对该系统的实际应用性能进行验证,结果表明该系统能够有效满足基于光谱采集的多通道光纤传感解调数据处理要求。     

Fiber-optic temperature sensors based on differential spectral transmittance/reflectivity and multiplexed sensing systems

A concept for optical temperature sensing based on the differential spectral reflectivity/transmittance from a multilayer dielectric edge filter is described and demonstrated. Two wavelengths, λ(1) and λ(2), from the spectrum of a broadband light source are selected so that they are located on the sloped and flat regions of the reflection or transmission spectrum of the filter, respectively. As temperature variations shift the reflection or transmission spectrum of the filter, they change the output power of the light at λ(1), but the output power of the light at λ(2) is insensitive to the shift and therefore to the temperature variation. The temperature information can be extracted from the ratio of the light powers at λ(1) to the light at λ(2). This ratio is immune to changes in the output power of the light source, fiber losses induced by microbending, and hence modal-power distribution fluctuations. The best resolution of 0.2 °C has been obtained over a range of 30-120 °C. Based on such a basic temperature-sensing concept, a wavelength-division-multiplexed, temperature-sensing system is constructed by cascading three sensing-edge filters that have different cutoff wavelengths along a multimode fiber. The signals from the three sensors are resolved by detecting the correspondent outputs at different wavelengths.     

Understanding environmental impacts on initial atmospheric corrosion based on corrosion monitoring sensors

Atmospheric corrosion monitoring(ACM)sensors were employed to study the initial atmospheric corrosion of carbon steels over a one-month period in six outdoor dynamic atmospheric environments in China.Based on the~250,000 corrosion data sets collected,the environmental impacts of relative humidity,temperature and rainfall on the initial corrosion behavior of carbon steels were investigated.The results showed that rainfall was the strongest environmental factor influencing the initial atmospheric corrosion rate.Relative humidity significantly influenced the corrosion of carbon steels in low-precipitation environments and non-rainfall period.     

A review of photodetectors for sensing light-emitting reporters in biological systems

A review of photodetectors for optical detection in biological applications is presented. The intent is to provide an overview of the performance metrics and trade-offs among popular photodetectors in order to facilitate an easier match among the photodetector, biological stimulus, and optical pathway. The characteristics and nonidealities of fluorescent and phosphorescent reporters, and the properties of optical components such as filters, lenses, and light sources, are reviewed. By accounting for sources of noise in these components, it is shown how to determine metrics for the optical system that can then be converted to photodetector metrics. Defined photodetector metrics include the quantum efficiency, responsivity, noise-equivalent power, detectivity, gain, dark current, response time, and noise spectrum. The operating principles and performance trade-offs of photodetectors are reviewed, and emphasis is placed on photodetectors for integrated compact systems. Top commercial candidates for photodetectors for detecting light emitted from reporters are the photomultiplier tube, avalanche photodiode, and charge-coupled device. Focus is placed on new developments in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor structures that can provide low-cost, low-power, and low-voltage alternatives to traditional approaches to biological imaging. Reviewed device structures are presented in the context of supporting the development of laboratory-based instruments and compact fully-integrated systems.     

基于微波感知的挠性结构动态响应监测

以大跨度桥梁、高架道路为代表的挠性结构在服役过程中的健康监测备受关注和重视,结构动态响应的测量是实现结构健康监测的重要途径。基于微波感知的新型非接触式振动测量(简称"微波测振")技术与方法,开展挠性结构动态特性监测的应用研究。阐述了微波测振系统的组成及基于单频连续波和调频连续波微波雷达的振动测量基本理论与方法。针对工程实际中挠性结构动态响应监测需求与特点,提出微波测振系统的工作模式选择与参数设置准则。基于搭建的微波测振系统开展了轻轨高架箱梁结构在列车运行激励下的振动响应监测实验研究,分析了不同工况下结构的动态响应特性。结果显示,微波测振技术与方法能够准确测量挠性结构的形变与动态响应,为军民领域挠性结构的健康监测提供了一种新的非接触式振动测量技术与方法。     

Chemical sensing systems using xerogel-based sensor elements and CMOS photodetectors

We present the first example of an integrated complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) photodetector coupled with a solid-state xerogel-based thin-film sensor to produce a compact chemical sensor system. We compare results using two different CMOS-based detector systems to results obtained by using a standard photomultiplier tube (PMT) or charge-coupled device (CCD) detector. Because the chemical sensor elements are governed by a Stern-Volmer relationship, the Stern-Volmer quenching constant is used as the primary comparator between the different detectors. All of the systems yielded Stern-Volmer constants from 0.042 to 0.049 O/sub 2/%/sup -1/. The results show that the CMOS detector system yields analytical data that are comparable to the CCD- and PMT-based systems. The disparity between the data obtained from each detector is primarily associated with the difference in how the signals are obtained by each detector as they presently exist. We have also observed satisfactory reversibility in the operation of the sensor system. The CMOS-based system exhibits a response time that is faster than the chemical sensor element's intrinsic response time, making the CMOS suitable for time-dependent measurements. The CMOS array detector also uses less than 0.1% the power in comparison to a standard PMT or CCD. The combined xerogel/CMOS system represents an important step toward the development of a portable, efficient sensor system.     

基于FBG传感技术的复合材料T型加筋板低速冲击损伤监测

针对碳纤维增强树脂复合材料低速冲击损伤的实时监测,设计将布拉格光纤光栅（FBG）传感器埋植在复合材料T型加筋板结构的三角填充区,在线监测复合材料T型加筋板冲击损伤过程。分别将FBG传感器埋植于复合材料层合板内部和复合材料T型加筋板的三角填充区,对比FBG传感器的埋入对复合材料层合板和复合材料T型加筋板力学性能的影响。结果表明,内埋FBG传感器的复合材料层合板试样的拉伸强度比未埋植传感器的层合板试样降低了约5%,但在FBG传感器的破坏应变范围内,FBG传感器可以准确、实时地监测复合材料的应变信号。将FBG传感器埋入复合材料T型加筋板的三角填充区,内埋FBG传感器的T型加筋板样件压缩破坏载荷与未埋植的样件基本一致。通过对比T型加筋板蒙皮上冲击位置、冲击能量对FBG传感器测得的冲击过程持续时间和最大应变值的影响,表明冲击过程持续时间随着冲击能量增大而延长,最大应变值随着冲击距离的增加呈下降趋势,而最大应变值随着冲击能量的增大呈上升趋势。利用FBG传感器测得的应变信号可初步实现对复合材料T型加筋板蒙皮冲击损伤位置及冲击能量的实时监测。