A fiber optic microbend sensor for distributed sensing application in the structural strain monitoring

A fiber optic microbend sensor with an elastic, arched sensing diaphragm has been developed for structural strain measurement. The combination of multiple microbend sensors can form a sensor array for the quasi-distributed sensing application in the monitoring of local strain or deformation along structures, and the optical time domain reflectometry can be conveniently used fur interrogation of each sensor unit. The sensor sensitivity can be set at a specific value according to the requirements of the measurement condition. Connected with multiplexed sensing processing schemes, the sensor array may find an application in the real-time monitoring and damage detection of large and critical engineering structures. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.