This master’s thesis is focused on sensory systems and analysis of such signals. In the frst part, a theoretical analysis of each sensory system is conducted. Followingly, appropriate flters were used to process these signals. The last part of this thesis deals with the analysis of measured data.

This master’s thesis is focused on sensory systems and analysis of such signals. In the frst part, a theoretical analysis of each sensory system is conducted. Followingly, appropriate flters were used to process these signals. The last part of this thesis deals with the analysis of measured data.

Recently, adding more lanes becomes less and less feasible, which is no longer an applicable solution for the traffic congestion problem due to the increment of vehicles. Using the existing infrastructure more efficiently with better traffic control and management is the realistic solution. An effective traffic management requires the use of monitoring technologies to extract traffic parameters that describe the characteristics of vehicles and their movement on the road. A three-dimension glass fiber-reinforced polymer packaged fiber Bragg grating sensor (3D GFRP-FBG) is introduced for the traffic monitoring system. The proposed sensor network was installed for validation at the Cold Weather Road Research Facility in Minnesota (MnROAD) facility of Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) in MN. A vehicle classification system based on the proposed sensor network has been validated. The vehicle classification system uses support vector machine (SVM), Neural Network (NN), and K-Nearest Neighbour (KNN) learning algorithms to classify vehicles into categories ranging from small vehicles to combination trucks. The field-testing results from real traffic show that the developed system can accurately estimate the vehicle classifications with 98.5 % of accuracy. Also, the proposed sensor network has been validated for low-speed and high-speed WIM measurements in flexible pavement. Field testing validated that the longitudinal component of the sensor has a measurement accuracy of 86.3% and 89.5% at 5 mph and 45 mph vehicle speed, respectively. A performed parametric study on the stability of the WIM system shows that the loading position is the most significant parameter affecting the WIM measurements accuracy compared to the vehicle speed and pavement temperature. Also the system shows the capability to estimate the location of the loading position to enhance the system accuracy.

Difficulties with wind turbines can arise during operation due to externalforces provoked by the wind. Calculating the deflection of the blades can beused to give break points for maintenance, design and/or monitoring purposes. Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors can be installed on the windblades to detect signals that can be reinterpreted as deflection in differentdirections. In this project a tool was developed that can take this information in real time to analyze critical issues which is important to save timeand operational and maintenance costs (O&M). To do so, a predictive model is used to anticipate the deflection in the blades caused by the impact ofthe wind in different orientations. The main purpose of this work is to showan algorithm that can transform optical signals from the FBG sensors into ashape calculator for the deflection for maintenance purposes. At the sametime, it is shown that this algorithm can be used as a forecast tool takinginto consideration the weather data.

Essa dissertação de mestrado é dedicada ao estudo, desenvolvimento e caracterização da resposta dinâmica de transdutores de deformação mecânica e de temperatura baseados em grades de Bragg inscritas em fibras ópticas (FBG). Como não se encontram referências diretas na literatura da área sobre a caracterização da resposta dinâmica de sensores de temperatura e deformação a FBG, percebeu-se a importância de realizar um trabalho com ênfase nesse aspecto. O desenvolvimento de transdutores FBG de deformação e de temperatura com resposta dinâmica rápida é de grande importância, já que as grades de Bragg são afetadas, de maneira intrínseca, simultaneamente pelas duas grandezas e que existe um amplo leque de aplicações em que uma delas, ou ambas, variam rapidamente. Nesses casos, diferenças em termos de tempos de resposta entre os sensores utilizados para medição de deformação e os usados para compensação de temperatura podem acarretar em erros significativos nas medidas, o que pode até inviabilizar o uso dos sensores a grades de Bragg em tais aplicações. Este trabalho apresenta um compêndio da teoria da tecnologia das FBG para aplicação em sensores ópticos de deformação e de temperatura. Buscando contribuir para o domínio das técnicas de fabricação de sensores a FBG no Brasil, também são apresentados os resultados experimentais da utilização de grades de Bragg inscritas em fibras ópticas fabricadas no laboratório da Subdivisão de Sensores (EFO-S), da Divisão de Fotônica do Instituto de Estudos Avançados (IEAv) do Comando-Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial (CTA), como elementos sensores em ensaios de deformação e de temperatura. Os resultados de caracterizações, tanto de FBG produzidas no IEAv quanto de sensores de deformação e de temperatura comerciais das empresas Micron Optics e Fiber Sensing, foram obtidos por meio de três interrogadores diferentes e são comparados e apresentados neste trabalho. Em uma análise realizada dos resultados apresentados de sensores a FBG, utilizados para medição de temperatura e de deformação mecânica em alguns arranjos experimentais, foram observados comportamentos dinâmicos não lineares que apresentam-se como um obstáculos a serem vencidos para a viabilização da aplicação desta técnica à medição desses parâmetros quando os mesmos são rapidamente variáveis. / This dissertation is devoted to the study, development and characterization of the dynamic response of mechanical strain and temperature transducers based on Bragg gratings inscribed in optical fibers (FBG). Since there are no direct references in the literature on the characterization of the dynamic response of FBG based temperature and strain sensors, it was realized the importance of conducting a study with emphasis on this aspect. The development of FBG strain and temperature transducers with fast dynamic response is of great importance, since the Bragg gratings are intrinsically and simultaneously affected by the two quantities and there is a wide range of applications in which one or both quantities vary rapidly. In such cases, differences in response times between the sensors used for measurement of strain and used for temperature compensation can result in significant errors, which may even preclude the use of FBG sensors in such applications. This work presents a compendium of the theory related to FBG technology for application in optical strain and temperature sensors. Seeking to master the techniques of manufacture of the FBG sensors in Brazil, experimental results from the use of FBG manufactured in the laboratory of Sensors Subdivision (EFO-S), of Photonics Division of Institute of Advanced Studies (IEAv) of General Command for Aerospace Technology (CTA) as sensor elements in strain and temperature trials are also presented. The results of both characterizations, of FBG produced in IEAv and strain and temperature commercial sensors, produced by Micron Optics and Fiber Sensing manufacturers, were obtained from three different interrogators and are compared and presented in this paper. In an analysis of the results of FBG sensors used for measuring temperature and mechanical deformation in some experimental arrangements, nonlinear dynamic behaviors were observed. Such behaviors present themselves as an obstacle to be overcome to achieve the feasibility of applying this technique to measurement of these parameters when they are rapidly changing.

Essa dissertação de mestrado é dedicada ao estudo, desenvolvimento e caracterização da resposta dinâmica de transdutores de deformação mecânica e de temperatura baseados em grades de Bragg inscritas em fibras ópticas (FBG). Como não se encontram referências diretas na literatura da área sobre a caracterização da resposta dinâmica de sensores de temperatura e deformação a FBG, percebeu-se a importância de realizar um trabalho com ênfase nesse aspecto. O desenvolvimento de transdutores FBG de deformação e de temperatura com resposta dinâmica rápida é de grande importância, já que as grades de Bragg são afetadas, de maneira intrínseca, simultaneamente pelas duas grandezas e que existe um amplo leque de aplicações em que uma delas, ou ambas, variam rapidamente. Nesses casos, diferenças em termos de tempos de resposta entre os sensores utilizados para medição de deformação e os usados para compensação de temperatura podem acarretar em erros significativos nas medidas, o que pode até inviabilizar o uso dos sensores a grades de Bragg em tais aplicações. Este trabalho apresenta um compêndio da teoria da tecnologia das FBG para aplicação em sensores ópticos de deformação e de temperatura. Buscando contribuir para o domínio das técnicas de fabricação de sensores a FBG no Brasil, também são apresentados os resultados experimentais da utilização de grades de Bragg inscritas em fibras ópticas fabricadas no laboratório da Subdivisão de Sensores (EFO-S), da Divisão de Fotônica do Instituto de Estudos Avançados (IEAv) do Comando-Geral de Tecnologia Aeroespacial (CTA), como elementos sensores em ensaios de deformação e de temperatura. Os resultados de caracterizações, tanto de FBG produzidas no IEAv quanto de sensores de deformação e de temperatura comerciais das empresas Micron Optics e Fiber Sensing, foram obtidos por meio de três interrogadores diferentes e são comparados e apresentados neste trabalho. Em uma análise realizada dos resultados apresentados de sensores a FBG, utilizados para medição de temperatura e de deformação mecânica em alguns arranjos experimentais, foram observados comportamentos dinâmicos não lineares que apresentam-se como um obstáculos a serem vencidos para a viabilização da aplicação desta técnica à medição desses parâmetros quando os mesmos são rapidamente variáveis. / This dissertation is devoted to the study, development and characterization of the dynamic response of mechanical strain and temperature transducers based on Bragg gratings inscribed in optical fibers (FBG). Since there are no direct references in the literature on the characterization of the dynamic response of FBG based temperature and strain sensors, it was realized the importance of conducting a study with emphasis on this aspect. The development of FBG strain and temperature transducers with fast dynamic response is of great importance, since the Bragg gratings are intrinsically and simultaneously affected by the two quantities and there is a wide range of applications in which one or both quantities vary rapidly. In such cases, differences in response times between the sensors used for measurement of strain and used for temperature compensation can result in significant errors, which may even preclude the use of FBG sensors in such applications. This work presents a compendium of the theory related to FBG technology for application in optical strain and temperature sensors. Seeking to master the techniques of manufacture of the FBG sensors in Brazil, experimental results from the use of FBG manufactured in the laboratory of Sensors Subdivision (EFO-S), of Photonics Division of Institute of Advanced Studies (IEAv) of General Command for Aerospace Technology (CTA) as sensor elements in strain and temperature trials are also presented. The results of both characterizations, of FBG produced in IEAv and strain and temperature commercial sensors, produced by Micron Optics and Fiber Sensing manufacturers, were obtained from three different interrogators and are compared and presented in this paper. In an analysis of the results of FBG sensors used for measuring temperature and mechanical deformation in some experimental arrangements, nonlinear dynamic behaviors were observed. Such behaviors present themselves as an obstacle to be overcome to achieve the feasibility of applying this technique to measurement of these parameters when they are rapidly changing.

In this thesis, we explore the four aspects of fiber Bragg grating sensors: mathematical modeling of Fiber Bragg Grating response/spectral characteristics, fabrication using phase mask, application and interrogation. Applications of fiber Bragg gratings, also known as in-fiber gratings, with emphasis on their sensing capabilities, interrogation of an array of sensors and their performance in structural health monitoring scenario are documented. First, we study the process of photosensitivity phenomenon in glasses, in particular GeO2:SiO2 glasses. For mathematical modeling we consider the 1-D refractive index profile along the propagation axis of an optical fiber drawn from the preform of such glasses. These 1-D index structures exhibit a bandgap for propagation along the fiber axis. We show how the bandgap is dependent on the two structural parameters: index periodicity and effective refractive index. The mathematical model provides the characteristics of three sensor parameters -resonance wavelength also known as the Bragg wavelength (λB ), filter bandwidth (ΔλB ), and reflectivity (R). We show that the evolution of the index structure in germanosilicate glasses is dependent on the inscription parameters such as exposure time, intensity of the laser used for inscribing, the interference pattern, and coherence of the laser system. In particular, a phase mask is used as the diffffacting element to generate the required interference pattern, that is exposed on the photosensitive fiber. We present a mathematical model of the electromagnetic diffraction pattern behind the phase mask and study the effect of the limited coherence of the writing laser on the interference pattern produced by the diffracting beams from the mask. Next, we demostrate the sensing capabilities of the fiber Bragg gratings for measuring strain, temperature and magnetic fields. We report linearity of 99.7% and sensitivity of 10.35pm/◦C for the grating temperature sensor. An array of gratings assigned with non-overlapping spectral windows is inscribed in a single fiber and applied for distributed sensing of structural health monitoring of an aircraft’s composite air-brake panel. The performance of these sensors is compared with the industry standard resistance foil gauges. We report good agreement between the two gauges (FBG and RSG). In some applications it is more desirable to know the spectral content, rather than the magnitude of perturbation. Fiber Bragg gratings sensors can be used to track events that occur in a very small span of time and contain high frequencies. Such applications demand very high speed wavelength demodulation methods. We present two interrogation techniques: wavelength-shift time-stamping (WSTS) and reflectivity division multiplexing (RDM). WSTS interrogation method employs the multiple threshold-crossing technique to quantize the sensor grating fluctuations and in the process produces the time stamps at every level-cross. The time-stamps are assembled and with the a priori knowledge of the threshold levels, the strain signal is reconstructed. The RDM methodology is an extension of the WSTS model to address multiple sensors. We show that by assigning unique reflectivities to each of the sensors in an array, the time-stamps from each of the sensors can be tagged. The time-stamps are collected by virtue of their corresponding pulse heights, and assembled to reconstruct the strain signal of each of the array sensor. We demonstrate that the two interrogation techniques are self-referencing systems, i.e., the speed at which the signals are reconstructed is instantaneous or as fast as the signal itself.

Efficient and accurate sensing of various parameters is needed for numerous applications. In this regard, different categories of sensors play a significant role and different applications require diverse sensing mechanisms owing to the operating conditions and field constraints. Among the several sensor methodologies available, optical fiber sensors have found significant attention, because of their advantages such as negligible foot print, small mass, immunity to Electromagnetic Interference, etc. In the category of optical fiber sensors, Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors have found importance in many fields such as health monitoring of civil structures, environmental monitoring involving gas & humidity sensing, monitoring parameters like pressure, tilt, displacement, etc. In the recent times, FBGs have found applications in biomedical, biomechanical and biosensing fields. A FBG is a periodic change of the refractive index of the core of a single mode optical fiber along its longitudinal axis. The periodic modulation in the index of refraction is obtained by exposing a photosensitive germanium-doped silica fiber to an intense UV laser beam. FBGs, in the basic form, can sense strain and temperature. However, in recent years, several newer sensing applications of FBGs have been demonstrated. Some of the main features of the FBG sensor which qualify them for diverse sensing applications are high sensitivity, large operational bandwidth, multiplexing & multi modal sensing capability, etc. In this thesis work, FBG sensor based devices have been developed for newer applications in bio-medical fields for the measurement of force, flow and temperature. Particularly, novel transduction methodologies have been proposed, in order to convert the measurand parameter into a secondary parameter that can be sensed by the FBG sensor. The evaluation of the force required for a spinal needle to penetrate various tissue layers from skin to the epidural space is vital. In this work, a novel technique for dynamic monitoring of force experienced by a spinal needle during lumbar puncture using Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor has been developed. The Fiber Bragg Grating Force Device (FBGFD) developed, measures the force on the spinal needle due to varied resistance offered by different tissue layers during its traversal. The effect of gauge of the spinal needle used for the lumbar puncture procedure affects the force required for its insertion into the tissue. The FBGFD developed, has been further utilized for a comparative study of the force required for lumbar puncture of various tissue layers with spinal needle of different gauges. The results obtained may serve as a guideline for selection of suitable gauge spinal needle during lumbar puncture minimizing post puncture side effects on patients. The pulmonary function test carried out using a spirometer, provides vital information about the functional status of the respiratory system of the subject. A Fiber Bragg Grating Spirometer (FBGS) has been developed which has the ability to convert the rate of air flow into a shift in wavelength that can be acquired by the FBG sensor. The FBGS can dynamically acquire the complete breathing sequence comprising of the inhalation phase, pause phase and exhalation phase in terms of the air flow rate along with the time duration of each phase. Methods are adopted to analyse and determine important pulmonary parameters using FBGS and compare these parameters with those obtained with a commercially available hospital grade pneumotachograph spirometer. Thermal imaging is one of the emerging non-invasive neuro-imaging techniques which can potentially indicate the boundaries of a brain tumor. The variation in tissue surface temperature is indicative of a tumor existence. In this work a FBG temperature sensor (FBGTS) has been developed for thermography of a simulated tissue using Agar material. The temperature of the embedded heater which mimics a brain tumor along with the surface temperature of the tissue model, is acquired using FBGTSs simultaneously. Further, the surface temperatures are studied for varying heater temperatures as well as varying positions of the heater in the simulated tissue model. To conclude, FBG based devices have been developed in this work, for applications in biomedical domain, with appropriate transduction methodologies for sensing different parameters such as force, flow and temperature.

Spectrally-based fiber optic sensors are a rapidly maturing technology capable of sensing several environmental parameters in environments that are unfitting to electrical sensors. However, the sensor interrogation systems for this type of sensors are not yet fit to replace conventional sensor systems. They lack the speed, compact size, and usability necessary to move into mainstream test and measurement. The Fiber Sensor Integrated Monitor (FSIM) technology leverages rapid optical components and parallel hardware architecture to move these sensors across the research threshold into greater mainstream use. By dramatically increasing speed, shrinking size, and targeting an interface that can be used in large-scale industrial interrogation systems, spectrally-based fiber optic sensors can now find more widespread use in both research labs and industrial applications. The technology developed in this thesis was demonstrated by producing two advanced interrogators: one that was one half the size of commercially available systems, and one that accelerated live spectral capture by one thousand times – both of which were operated by non-developers with little training.

The purpose of this project is to explore the FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) technology and create a force sensor. The result can be used as a basis for further projects.The project starts with force and strain measurements. The project then evolves to incorporate multiple FBG sensors. An uncommon method of writing the FBG withcoating is tested, which results in a FBG with most of the coating left.The result is a multi-FBG sensor. And even though the individual FBG is not linear the sum shows fantastic linearity with R-square of 0.99999. The change in wavelength is 1328pm/N. A common issue in the strain measurement is discussed and proof is provided. This shows that the reference value of the FBG is 1.12pm/μstrain instead of 1.21pm/μstrain. This is important if the FBG is mounted in a structure, because then the material proprieties will be dominating. Another result is that the peaks of Fabry Perot grating pair are linear but with different coecients.