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Springer Handbook of Experimental Solid Mechanics pp 347–370Cite as

Optical Fiber Strain Gages

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Abstract

Optical fiber strain sensing is an evolving field in optical sciences in which multiple optical principles and techniques are employed to measure strain. This chapter seeks to provide a concise overview of the various types of optical fiber strain sensors currently available. The field of optical fiber strain sensing is nearly 30 years old and is still breaking new ground in terms of optical fiber technology, instrumentation, and applications. For each sensor discussed in the following sections, the basic optical layout is presented along with a description of the optical phenomena and the governing equations.

Comprehensive coverage of all aspects of optical fiber strain sensing is beyond the scope of this chapter. For example, each sensor type can be interrogated by a number of means, sometimes based on differing technology. Furthermore, these sensors are finding applications in a wide variety of fields including aerospace, oil and gas, maritime, and civil infrastructures. The interested reader is referred to the works by Grattan and Meggit [14.1], Measures [14.2], and Udd [14.3] for more-detailed descriptions of interrogation techniques and applications of the various sensors.

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Abbreviations

ABS:

American Bureau of Shipping

DTS:

distributed temperature sensing

DTS:

dodecyltrichlorosilane

EFPI:

extrinsic Fabry–Pérot interferometer

FBG:

fiber Bragg grating

LAN:

local area network

LED:

light-emitting diode

LPG:

long-period grating

NA:

numerical aperture

OFDR:

optical frequency-domain reflectometry

OPD:

optical path difference

PBG:

photonic-bandgap

PCF:

photonic-crystal fiber

PLD:

path length difference

PM:

polarization maintaining

PM:

power meter

RF:

radiofrequency

RSG:

resistance strain gage

TDM:

time division multiplexing

TIR:

total internal reflection

WDM:

wavelength-domain multiplexing

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aither Engineering, Inc., 4865 Walden Lane, 20706, Lanham, MD, USA

    Chris S. Baldwin Dr.

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  1. Chris S. Baldwin Dr.
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Correspondence to Chris S. Baldwin Dr. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Room 126, Latrobe Hall, The Johns Hopkins University, 21218-2681, Baltimore, MD, USA, 3400 North Charles Street

    William N. Sharpe Jr. Prof.

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© 2008 Springer-Verlag

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Baldwin, C.S. (2008). Optical Fiber Strain Gages. In: Sharpe, W. (eds) Springer Handbook of Experimental Solid Mechanics. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-30877-7_14

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