SENSORS BASED ON OPTIC FBG (IEF T1)

Authors: (PL2 G4)

Denisa Lapuste NM:107820
Francisco Silva NM:114495
Oliwia Wdowiak NM:116652

Summary:
The objective of this study was to characterize the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) as a displacement
sensor and accelerometer. In the initial phase, we applied tension to the optical fiber containing
FBGs using a micrometer screw and observed the changes in its spectrum on a spectrometer
while recording the reflected wavelength values. In the second part, we compared the response
of the FBG based accelerometer to vibrations on a table with that of an electronic accelerometer,
which were measured and visualized using an interrogator and an oscilloscope, respectively. The
results we got were a sensibility of 1,2(pm/με) for the FGB as a displacement sensor and a
sensibility of 0,18±0,08(nm/G) for the FGB as an accelerometer. We concluded that the FGB is
effective as both a displacement sensor and an accelerometer.

Experimental procedure:
Material:
- Optic fibers
- Optical interrogator BraggMETER FS22 Dynamic (HBM) Figure 1 – Optical fiber, with FBG inside, and
micrometer screw for the first part of the
- Computer with the software BraggMONITOR DI experiment.

- Micrometer screw
- Battery
- Oscilloscope
- Electric accelerometer CLX02LF1Z (CROSSBOW)

Figure 2 – Material and experimental setup

for the second part of the experiment.
PART 1: FBG AS A DISPLACEMENT SENSOR
Firstly, we wanted to characterize the FBG as a displacement sensor. For this, we fixed a fiber
containing the FBG between two points, as we can see in Fig. 1. Then, using a micrometer screw,
we adjusted the fiber in order to straighten it. We made sure that the fiber was stressed as little
as possible while maintaining its straightness. Then, we measured the spectrum of light emitted
from the interrogator, which emitted infrared light. Subsequently, we observed and acquire
values, having in mind that we could not exceed the maximum displacement of 0.20mm (20
divisions of the screw), so that we would not damage the fiber. And with this data, after proper
analysis, we were able to describe how the displacement would affect the wavelength.

Figure 3 – Spectrum of the light reflected to

the interrogator.

PART 2: FBG AS AN ACCELEROMETER

Secondly, to analyze how the FGB would work as an accelerometer, we set up an electric
accelerometer connected to an oscilloscope as shown in Fig. 2. Afterwards, we hit the table
creating a vibration that was detected by both the digital accelerometer and the accelerometer
based on FBG (Fig. 4). With the first one connected to the oscilloscope and the other one to the
interrogator and then to the software, we registered the values we obtained, so we could
compare them later.
Our first values were not according to what we expected, so we had to repeat this procedure by
hitting the table using less force.

Figure 4 – Digital accelerometer and

accelerometer based on FBG.
Results and discussion:
From the first part of our experiment, we were able to see that the wavelength observed on the
spectrum shown on the software (Fig. 3), varied with the stretching of the fiber that contained
the FBGs inscribed inside. We have also collected the values for the wavelength and respective
length variation of the fiber, ∆𝐿 (Table 1).
With the ∆𝐿 values and knowing the initial length 𝐿 = 255 𝑚𝑚, we calculated the deformation
∆𝐿
𝜖= (also multiplying by 106 in order to have the values in micro-strain, μϵ) and then, we
𝐿
plotted the graph for the variation of the wavelength with the deformation, seen in Fig. 5.

Table 1 – Data of variation of length,

wavelength, and deformation.

Figure 5 – Graph of the variation of the wavelength with the deformation of the
fiber. And table with the parameters from the linearization with respective errors.

This variation happens, because since the fiber stretches, consequently, the FBGs inside is also
stretched and when the fiber is stretched or compressed, the grating period changes, which leads
to a shift in the reflected wavelength [1]. From the graph, we are able to see that the relation
wavelength-deformation is linear, having the expression 𝑦 = 0,0012𝑥 + 1531,2 as the equation
from the linear regression, where the slope 𝑚 = 0,0012 (𝑛𝑚/𝜇𝜀) corresponds to the sensibility
of the fiber to the deformation while the ordinate at the origin 𝑏 = 1531,2 (𝑛𝑚) is simply the
wavelength reflected without stretching the fiber. What is more, we can see that our linear
regression is reasonable, since the R2 is very close to 1.
We can compare our experimental value for the sensitivity (of the FBG as a displacement sensor)
with the expected value that is 1,2 (𝑝𝑚/𝜇𝜀) [2], and as we can see these values match which
tells us that our FBG can be used effectively as a displacement sensor.
 For the second part of our experiment, for a better comparison between the FBG based
accelerometer and a digital accelerometer, we combined the graphs from the data for the
perturbance of both into a single graph. In Fig. 6, we have the result of a strong strike on the table
producing greater oscillations to be detected and we can see how different the results from the
accelerometers are. It is important to notice how the accelerometer based on FBG shows a lot of
smooth oscillations while the plot on the oscilloscope looks strange giving us the sensation of
oscillations with less frequency, as if the device was not able to detect all the perturbance. On
the other hand, we see how similar the outputs from both the accelerometers are in Fig. 7. These
results were obtained by giving a gentle slap on the table, resulting in oscillations with less
frequency and intensity getting the two functions of time close to one another.
It is important to note that in order to have the data from both devices into a single graph it was
necessary to do the proper adjustments, since the graph from the software gives the variation of
the wavelength with time and the oscilloscope shows the voltage as a function of time. The
original graphs without the adjustments are in the appendix (figures 8, 9, 10 and 11).

Figure 6 – Graph comparing the signals resulted for the oscillation due Figure 7 – Graph comparing the signals resulted for the oscillation
to abrupt movement on the table detected from both accelerometers. due to a gentle tap on the table detected from both accelerometers.

From the observations stated above, it is reasonable to conclude that the digital accelerometer
cannot properly detect sudden movements while the FBG based accelerometer can, bearing in
mind the way the different accelerometers detected the perturbance. We can see in Fig. 4, that
the fiber senses the vibrations from the inertial mass, that is inside the metal object, and so it has
a lot of freedom to oscillate, while the digital accelerometer is attached to the metal object which
is on the table. Thus, when a stronger strike on the table is applied, it can be harder for the digital
accelerometer to detect properly the perturbance created, as the metal object has less freedom
of movement not just because of its geometry but also because of its higher inertia, also noting
that it is not able to conduct the signal perfectly.
From the data from the Fig. 7 we can calculate the sensitivity of the FBG as an accelerometer by
getting the points of the peaks from the original graphs (Fig.10 and Fig.9 in the appendix) and by
knowing the sensitivity of the digital accelerometer, that is 0,997G/V, we can calculate 𝐺 =
𝜆
𝑉 × 0,997 and then get the sensitivity of the FBG as an accelerometer by doing 𝑆 = 𝐺 , (see Tab.2
from the appendix). Our resulting sensitivity is then 𝑆 ≈ 0,18 ± 0,08 (𝑛𝑚/𝐺).

After analyzing the data and calculating the sensitivity of the FBG as an accelerometer we can
infer that it can be used as a good accelerometer. Although we can’t say for sure that it is better
than the digital one, since the conditions on both devices were different, as stated above, we can
say that in this case in specific the FBG as an accelerometer gave better results than the digital
accelerometer.

Conclusion:
On this experiment, we have tried to characterize FBG’s as displacement sensors and as
accelerometers. We constructed two environments to conduct this characterization.
As for its role as a displacement sensor, we noticed that the wavelength seen in the spectrum
varied with the stretching of the fiber into which the FBGs were inscribed, due to the way the
FBG performs. From analyzing our obtained graph, we got the experimental sensitivity of the
fiber with the deformation which matches with the expected, that is 1,2(pm/με), concluding that
the FBG is a good displacement sensor.
As for the role of FBG as an accelerometer, the sensitivity we got was 0,18±0,08(nm/G) ,and we
can conclude it can detect better vibrations from harsh movements than the digital one and thus
produce better outcomes. For perturbations with low frequencies, the difference between the
signals registered from these two equipments is not much, however it still can be seen as shown
in Fig. 7. These better results for the FBG as an accelerometer, we believe is because of the
limitations of the digital accelerometer to detect the oscillations induced on the table. And we
think we could have gotten better graphs for the digital accelerometer with the fast strikes on
the table by also attaching it to the inertial mass.
As for our main sources of error we consider that the main ones were due to the laboratory
equipment used and its proper initial settings we have used and the problem with data collection
from the first part of our experimental procedure, regarding the way and the strength of
initializing the vibrations.
References:
[1] “How does it work?", FIBOS, published on unknown date, Available: https://fibos.ca/how-
fbg-works.html, Accessed in April 2023.
[2] “What is a Fiber Bragg Grating?”, HBM, published on unknown date, Available:
https://www.hbm.com/en/4596/what-is-a-fiber-bragg-grating/, Accessed in April 2023.
[3] https://www.china-tscom.com/products/fbg-sensor/?gclid=CjwKCAjw6IiiBhAOEiwALNqncZCFzeH-f-
B0zDFVpVCrOlvNWJA9l1UZ1_qywjPivz_LnsRHGXt6mhoCV3IQAvD_BwE

Appendix:
Separated graphs used for Fig. 6:

Figure 8 – Graph of the signal detected by the FBG based Figure 9 – Graph of the signal detected by the digital
accelerometer due to an abrupt movement on the table. accelerometer due to an abrupt movement on the table.

Separated graphs used for Fig. 7:

Figure 10 – Graph of the signal detected by the FBG Figure 11 – Graph of the signal detected by the digital
based accelerometer due to a gentle tap on the table. accelerometer due to a gentle tap on the table.

Table 2 – Data to get the sensitivity of the FBG as an accelerometer.