Thesis (M.S. in Applied Physics and M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, June 2005. / Thesis Advisor(s): Gamani Karunasiri, James Luscombe, Robert Hutchins, John Powers. Includes bibliographical references (p. 129-131). Also available online.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2005. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file viewed on (July 14, 2006) Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 257-259). Also available in electronic version.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Delaware, 2007. / Principal faculty advisor: Fouad Kiamilev, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2004. Graduate Programme in Computer Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-159). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url%5Fver=Z39.88-2004&res%5Fdat=xri:pqdiss &rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR11828

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Canterbury, 2008. / Typescript (photocopy). "February 2008." Includes bibliographical references (p. 191-199). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 1998 / The purpose of this study was to perform an investigation into advances in the field of opto-electronics and to develop a suitable lightwave sensor, for application in smart structures research. Included in the scope of this research was the theoretical development and analysis of an appropriate technology to lead to an implementation of such sensors. This project forms part of an overall plan to gain experience in optoelectronic (photonic) sensor design. In research done previously in smart structure monitoring, piezo-electric techniques with the usual electrical interconnections was used. In a highly distributed sensor system the problems of electromagnetic interference, the tribo-electric effect and noise could be problematic. In this research, opto electronic techniques were thoroughly researched and an improvement on laser based fibre-optic interferometers was made. A non monochromatic lightwave interferometer was developed from theory and a prototype tested. The results suggests that an interferometric sensor can be operated with a non monochromatic source by using a second interferometer to modulate the frequency spectrum of the light before it is detected by a photodetector. Various test and measurement circuits for improved photodetector performance were evaluated, as well as a study of signal processing techniques that would be of use for an upgrade of the project where specific feature detection and analysis using the sensor is envisaged. A specification for a computer based data acquisition system was developed to do initial tests. The project should continue, with the sensor head being improved and all the necessary signal processing routines programmed into a Labview based data acquisition system.

Thesis (DTech (Electrical Engineering))--Peninsula Technikon, Cape Town, 2002 / In the last decade, the South Amcan Electricity Supply Commission would have had their ability to serve an ever demanding public severely tested. With the dilemma of providing electricity supply through hazardous environmental conditions, and with prospects of supplying power even beyond South Afiican borders, the need for a comprehensive damage and power delivery assessment strategy becomes all the more relevant. The rapid growth being made in the evolution of so called "intelligent" structures, with inherent sensor, actuator and control mechanisms built in can have direct influence on a power distribution network. At least in the foreseeable future, the impact ofphotonic sensors with inherent miniaturization, a foremost candidate in Smart System technology, can play a vital role in damage assessment of a potentially large network such as that found in the supply ofelectricity. Smart systems are nonliving systems that integrate the functions of sensing, actuation, logic and control, to respond adaptively to changes in their condition or environment to which they are exposed, in a useful and usually repetitive manner. Sensors are a fundamental part of the evolution of such systems and form the basis for the topic of this dissertation. The use ofoptical fiber sensors is increasing widely mainly due to their (a) miniature size, (b) remote signal processing ability, and (c) multiplexing capabilities. Because of the above features a variety of optical fiber sensing techniques has evolved over the years having potential for a myriad of applications. In this work a systems model and equations was developed for modeling the propagation of light in a optical waveguide, in order to study a Fabry Perrot sensor topology for application as a miniaturised sensor in a new type of smart structure, namely a smart electrical power system.

Thesis (DTech (Mechnical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2005 / Among the issues that are taken into consideration for many years by Engineers and Technologists is the integrity of the servicing elements in structures and mechanisms. It is a documented phenomenon that after a certain period of time, in service, engineering components tend to change their original state, and begin to develop faults and defects. This includes the original shape distortion due to effects such as bending, twisting, and cracks. The above-sited effects may be caused by the sudden or accumulative effect of overloading, thermal shocks, corrosion etc, which eventually lead to malfunction of these engineering components. The occurrence of the cracks may be as a result of stress variation in excess of different or similar materials; thermal shocks, vibration, etc. A system of structural health monitoring using optical fiber sensors to track down a crack occurrence and its propagation is considered to be a promising method in warning of catastrophic events. Taking advantage of optical fibers' properties and behavior, such as easy interaction with other materials, small size, low weight, corrosion resistance, geometrical flexibility and an inherent immunity to electromagnetic interference, there is potential in adopting the Fiber Optic Sensors (FOS) for structural health monitoring systems. Structural integrity does not confine itself to crack detection only. For example there are many instances where unwanted or excessive displacement may occur. Optical fibers play an important role in proximity sensing as evidenced in the literature [49] to [54] and available commercial systems. However it is felt that FOS displacement sensors may suffer in measurement accuracy due to in situ conditions.

M.Phil. / Linearly chirped fibre Bragg gratings can be used to compensate dispersions in a fibre transmission system. Various methods have been developed to chirp fibre gratings. It is proposed that a uniform period grating can be chirped by applying an axially linear strain gradient. In this project, we shall demonstate a novel method for making chirped fibre Bragg gratings, which involves bonding an unchirped fibre Bragg grating of 5cm length to the surface of a tapered stainless steel plate which is strained by bending or dilating. This allows a strain gradient to be formed along the grating length through the transferring of strains from the plate to the fibre. The profiles of tapered stainless steel plates have been determined by means of the finite element method and computer simulations to establish the strain gradient during loading. Ten conventional resistive strain gauges are also bonded on the other surface for strain measurements. Because of the strain gradient, the local Bragg wavelength is a function of the position along the length of the fibre grating so that the grating chirp is an automatic consequence of the strain gradient. This method provides the dynamic control of Bragg wavelength shift, peak reflectivity and spectral bandwidth, and its tunability is also suitable for optimising pulse compression and optical fibre dispersion compensation. Using couple-mode equations, we have also calculated the reflection response of a chirped fibre grating. It is shown that the close agreement between the theoretical and the experimental results suggests that the strain gradient technique provides good control of the Bragg grating chirp and the center wavelength of a chirped fibre Bragg grating.