When a long-period fibre grating (LPG) is bent, each resonant attenuation band of the transmission spectrum is observed to split into two. The wavelength separation of the split attenuation bands increases significantly with increasing bend curvature. Based on the recent observation of this novel effect¹, a high sensitivity structural bend sensor has been developed. The LPGs were bonded to the surface of a steel plate using an unsaturated polyester adhesive, and their bend sensing characteristics examined. Pairs of concave and convex testing jigs with a bending curvature ranging from 0.1 to 2m¹ were used to apply accurate bending curvature to the steel plate. The LPGs responses to bending in air and in the polyester adhesive are compared.

Date Published: 24 August 2000
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 4073, Fifth European Conference on Smart Structures and Materials, (24 August 2000); doi: 10.1117/12.396412

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4073:
Fifth European Conference on Smart Structures and Materials
Pierre Francois Gobin; Clifford M. Friend, Editor(s)