A novel fiber optic sensor for multiple and simultaneous measurement of vibration velocity

Simultaneous and multipoint assessment of vibration velocities is an important issue for the development of advanced noncontact vibrometers. In this article a novel fiber optic vibrometer is presented. The architecture of the sensor is based on a simple optical layout and it is characterized by multiple fiber optic interferometric sensors which are operated in the homodyne mode. Optical configuration and operation of the single-point version of the sensor, as well as the two-points measurement version, are described and typical measured signals with the operating range are shown. The sensor can easily be configured in order to perform a higher number of point measurements. Some details regarding signal acquisition and processing are also given and the ways in which Doppler demodulation is performed are discussed. Finally tests with sinusoidal target excitation in the range 0-1.8 kHz have been conducted. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.