Sensors (Feb 2023)

Distributed Impact Wave Detection in Steel I-Beam with a Weak Fiber Bragg Gratings Array

  • Yuan Wang,
  • Neil A. Hoult,
  • Joshua E. Woods,
  • Hannah Kassenaar,
  • Xiaoyi Bao

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/s23042194
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 23, no. 4
p. 2194

Abstract

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In this paper, acoustic, dynamic and static strain variations along a steel I-beam generated by an impact load are reconstructed simultaneously within a single measurement. Based on the chirped pulse φ-OTDR system with the single-shot measurement technique, both a higher strain-sensing resolution and a higher measurable vibration frequency are achieved. In addition, a weak fiber Bragg gratings array (WFBGA) with enhanced Rayleigh reflection is employed as a sensor, providing high signal-to-noise ratio Rayleigh traces, resulting in lower measurement uncertainty. In the experiments, the damping constant and fundamental frequency of the damped harmonic oscillator could then be measured based on the recovered strain variation profile for further structural health analysis. Compared with commercial strain gauges, linear potentiometers, and OFDR systems, the proposed sensing system ensures a distributed, quantitative, and high-frequency sensing ability, with an extensive range of potential applications.

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