A multi-cantilever beam low-frequency FBG acceleration sensor

Abstract

Abstract The acquisition of 2–50 Hz low-frequency vibration signals is of great significance for the monitoring researches on engineering seismology, bridges & dams, oil & gas exploration, etc. A multi-cantilever beam low-frequency FBG acceleration sensor is proposed against the low sensitivity that predominates in the low-frequency vibration measurement by FBG acceleration sensors. Structural parameters of the sensor is subjected to simulation analysis and optimization design using the ANSYS software; the real sensor is developed based on the simulation results in the following manner: Three rectangular of the cantilever beams are evenly arranged around the mass block at 120°to improve the sensitivity and alleviate the transverse crosstalk of sensor; in the end, a performance test is performed on the sensor. According to the research findings, the sensor, whose natural frequency is approximately 64 Hz, is applicable for monitoring the low-frequency vibration signals within the range 16–54 Hz. The sensor sensitivity is approximately $$87.955\,{\text{pm/m}}\;{\text{s}}^{ - 2}$$ 87.955 pm/m s - 2 , the linearity being greater than 99%, the transverse interference immunity being lower than 2.58%, and the dynamic range being up to 86 dB. The findings offer a reference for developing sensor of the same type and further improving the sensitivity of fiber optic acceleration sensor.