Transmission-type extrinsic fabry-perot interferometric optical fiber sensor

Abstract

A transmission-type extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric optical fiber sensor and a method used for integrity monitoring of structures and measuring strain and temperature are provided. The transmission-type extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric optical fiber sensor includes first single-mode optical fiber and second single-mode optical fiber, laser device, and optical detector. The first single-mode optical fiber is inserted into an end of a capillary quartz-glass tube and the second single-mode optical fiber is inserted into the other end of the capillary quartz-glass tube. Air gap is formed between the first single-mode optical fiber and the second single-mode optical fiber in the capillary quartz-glass tube. Gap length of the air gap changes in response to magnitude and direction of transformation of the capillary quartz-glass tube. The laser device launches light into an end of the first single-mode optical fiber. The end of the first single-mode optical fiber is not inserted into the capillary quartz-glass tube. The optical detector detects interferometric fringe of light. The light is launched from the laser device and passed through the first single-mode optical fiber, the air gap, and the second single-mode optical fiber. The number of occurrence of the interferometric fringe and trend of signal level are determined by change of the gap length.