The research of ultra-multi-point strain detection is one of the important topics at the forefront of optical fiber sensing technology. A newly ultra-multi-point strain measurement system was designed based on optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) and Fiber Bragg Grating. Two distributed feedback (DFB) lasers is proposed as laser source to generate the alternately pulsed light, and transmitted to a serial of fiber Bragg gratings with the same low-reflectivity and bandwidth. By the means of the strength of each reflectance spectrum and its return time of signals, the magnitude and location of strain can be accurately determined, and the numerical simulation shows that more than 1000 FBGs can be multiplexed in OTDR-FBG strain measurement system for a larger strain measurement range. Furthermore, the corresponding driving circuits for nanosecond pulse and temperature control circuits are designed for laser pulse modulation and frequency stabilization control. A OTDR-FBG strain measurement system is developed by using 10 FBGs with the reflectivity of less than 5%, and the system distance resolution of 43 cm is obtained, which verified the feasibility of the system.

Date Published: 31 January 2013
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 8759, Eighth International Symposium on Precision Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation, 875927 (31 January 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2014592

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8759:
Eighth International Symposium on Precision Engineering Measurement and Instrumentation
Jie Lin, Editor(s)