Material Strain Sensors
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We introduce a novel system for monitoring strain and vibration based on optical fibre technology. This system has been developed for applications like long term structural health monitoring (SHM) for civil and industrial structures. It is used to measure strain, displacement and vibrations.
This system provides new perspectives for a detailed interrogation of various seismic or geophysical events and/or for measurements on buildings, bridges, power plants and other structures. Compared with other techniques, the most important advantage of the sensors is its long term stability. If necessary, most of the sensor designs can be directly integrated into structures. Once applied, there is no need for any calibration or maintenance of the sensor during its whole lifetime. Alternatively, the sensors can be fixed on already existing structures.
Especially the immunity of the Bragg sensor against electric and magnetic fields qualifies the FBG measurement system for critical industrial applications. Thus the interrogation system is often used for monitoring and controlling of power generation and power transmission.
Further fields of application are automotive engineering, aerospace industry and generally the monitoring of critical metal constructions.