Effect of Coating on the Strain Transfer of Optical Fiber Sensors.docVIP

Sensors 2011, 11, 6926-6941; doi:10.3390/s110706926 OPEN ACCESS sensors ISSN 1424-8220 /journal/sensors Article Effect of Coating on the Strain Transfer of Optical Fiber Sensors Shiuh-Chuan Her * and Chih-Ying Huang Department of Mechanical Engineering, Yuan Ze University, Chung-Li 32003, Taiwan; E-Mail: s907219@.tw * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: mesch@.tw; Tel.: +886-3-463-8800; Fax: +886-3-455-8013. Received: 17 May 2011; in revised form: 27 June 2011 / Accepted: 27 June 2011 / Published: 1 July 2011 Abstract: Optical fiber strain sensors with light weight, small dimensions and immunity to electromagnetic interference are widely used in structural health monitoring devices. As a sensor, it is expected that the strains between the optical fiber and host structure are the same. However, due to the shear deformation of the protective coating, the optical fiber strain is different from that of host structure. To improve the measurement accuracy, the strain measured by the optical fiber needs to be modified to reflect the influence of the coating. In this investigation, a theoretical model of the strain transferred from the host material to the optical fiber is developed to evaluate the interaction between the host material and coating. The theoretical predictions are validated with a numerical analysis using the finite element method. Experimental tests are performed to reveal the differential strains between the optical fiber strain sensor and test specimen. The Mach-Zehnder interferometric type fiber-optic sensor is adopted to measure the strain. Experimental results show that the strain measured at the optical fiber is lower than the true strain in the test specimen. The percentage of strain in the test specimen actually transferred to the optical fiber is dependent on the bonded length of the optical fiber and the protectiv