Fiber-Optic Sensors for Measurements of Torsion, Twist and Rotation: A Review

Abstract

Optical measurement of mechanical parameters is gaining significant commercial interest in different industry sectors. Torsion, twist and rotation are among the very frequently measured mechanical parameters. Recently, twist/torsion/rotation sensors have become a topic of intense fiber-optic sensor research. Various sensing concepts have been reported. Many of those have different properties and performances, and many of them still need to be proven in out-of-the laboratory use. This paper provides an overview of basic approaches and a review of current state-of-the-art in fiber optic sensors for measurements of torsion, twist and/or rotation.Invited Paper

Keywords

• fiber optic sensors
• twist sensors
• rotation sensors
• circular birefringence
• linear birefringence
• FBG
• tilted FBG
• long period FBG
• polarization in optical fibers
• optical fibers