Aleksander Wosniok

A distributed fiber optic sensor system for dike monitoring using Brillouin frequency domain analysis

We report on the development of a distributed sensor system for strain measurement using Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis (BOFDA) in single-mode silica optical fibers. Our research aims at the application of the sensor system in flood protection. The sensing fibers are embedded into the soil body of river dikes, where they perform early detection of critical soil displacement. We present a BOFDA setup that performs strain measurements with a spatial resolution better than 3 meters over a length of 2 km. Its accuracy is verified by measurements on a calibrated strain profile as well as several laboratory tests that emulate the stressing of the optical fibers by soil movement. It is shown that the BOFDA approach offers feasible solutions to known critical issues of Brillouin sensing such as spectral broadening at high spatial resolution, digital filtering for enhancement of the dynamic range, and fluctuations of the Brillouin gain due to birefringence.

L-BOFDA: a new sensor technique for distributed Brillouin sensing

We propose a new scheme of Brillouin optical frequency-domain analysis (BOFDA) for distributed fiber-optic strain and temperature sensing, named linear-configured BOFDA (L-BOFDA). In conventional loop-configured BOFDA, light injection into both ends of a fiber under test (FUT) is needed for counter-propagation of pump and probe waves. In contrast, in L-BOFDA, pump and probe waves are injected into the same end of an FUT, and the probe wave Fresnelreflected (or mirror-reflected) at the other end of the FUT is exploited; thus, one-end access is feasible. We show proof-of-concept results of distributed strain measurement in a silica single-mode fiber with L-BOFDA, and discuss the signal-to-noise ratio degradation and the benefit in developing distributed Brillouin sensors based on polymer optical fibers.

A distributed fiber optic sensor system for dike monitoring using Brillouin optical frequency domain analysis

We report on the development of a complete system for spatially resolved detection of critical soil displacement in river embankments. The system uses Brillouin frequency domain analysis (BOFDA) for distributed measurement of strain in silica optical fibers. Our development consists of the measurement unit, an adequate coating for the optical fibers and a technique to integrate the coated optical fibers into geotextiles as they are commonly used in dike construction. We present several laboratory and field tests that prove the capability of the system to detect areas of soil displacement as small as 2 meters. These are the first tests of truly distributed strain measurements on optical fibers embedded into geosynthetics.

Structural Health Monitoring by Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors Embedded into Technical Textiles

Abstract Technical textiles with embedded distributed fiber optic sensors have been developed for the purposes of structural health monitoring in geotechnical and civil engineering. The distributed fiber optic sensors are based on Brillouin scattering in silica optical fibers and OTDR in polymer optical fibers. Such “smart” technical textiles are used for reinforcement of geotechnical and masonry structures. The embedded fiber optic sensors provide online information about the condition of the structure and about the occurrence and location of any damage or degradation. Zusammenfassung Technische Textilien mit integrierten faseroptischen Sensoren eröffnen neue Möglichkeiten der Zustandsüberwachung (structural health monitoring) in Geotechnik und Ingenieurbau. Die verteilt messenden Sensoren basieren auf der Brillouin-Streuung in Glasfasern und auf der OTDR in polymeroptischen Fasern. Derartige “intelligente” technische Textilien werden in erster Line zur Verstärkung von geotechnischen Bauwerken und von Gebäuden genutzt. Die integrierten Sensoren liefern eine zeitnahe Information über den bestimmungsgemäßen Zustand des Bauwerks sowie über die Entstehung und den Ort von lokalen Bauwerksschäden.

Toward investigation of Brillouin scattering in multimode polymer and silica optical fibers

In this paper, we present a study aimed at characterizing the optimal fiber optic components for Brillouin sensing in multimode fibers. For this purpose the use of single-mode and multimode circulators as well as couplers typically used in the Brillouin measurement setups was investigated. On the one hand the undesired coupling losses between conventional fiber optic measurement system components and a multimode sensor fiber can be overcome by replacing the singlemode components with their own multimode equivalents. On the other hand the use of multimode fiber optic circulators and multimode couplers affects the mode distribution of laser light which can impair the measurement signal backscattered in the multimode sensor fibers. In view of an increasing interest in high strain measurements using polymer optical fibers (POFs) as Brillouin-distributed sensors the investigation on Brillouin scattering effects in multimode fibers (MMFs) was performed on a low-loss perfluorinated graded-index polymer optical fiber (PFGI-POF). The obtained results were compared with those of a standard graded-index multimode (GI-MMF) silica glass optical fiber (GOF). This study confirms the relevance of the adaptation of the measurement system components to the use of the multimode sensor fibers. In addition, due to mode coupling effects occurring in the tested POF itself, the results show differences in the yield of the components adaptation in the sensory implementation of the two kinds of the tested optical fibers.

B7.4 - Health monitoring of geotechnical structures by distributed fiber optic sensors

Health monitoring of ground movement via highly sensitive fiber optic sensors allows operators to detect early potential or ongoing failures in critical geotechnical structures. Particularly, the fiber optic sensors can be embedded in geosynthetics which are nowadays widely used in many geotechnical applications including earth dikes, railway embankments, landfill liners, quarries and mines. Thereby, such smart geosynthetics can be used for reinforcement, layer separation, filtration or drainage while the embedded fiber optic sensors provide information about the condition of the geotechnical structures in real time. The paper highlights the results achieved in this innovative field in the framework of several German and European projects. The presented measurement methods for long-term monitoring are based on Brillouin scattering in silica glass optical fibers (GOFs) and optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) in polymer optical fibers (POFs).

Gamma radiation influence on silica optical fibers measured by optical backscatter reflectometry and Brillouin sensing technique

We have studied the influence of gamma rays on physical properties of different commercially available silica optical fibers stepwise irradiated up to a total dose of 100 kGy. The detection of radiation-induced changes in silica glass offers the possibility of using selected optical fibers as distributed radiation sensors. The measurements performed by us were based on optical backscatter reflectometry and Brillouin distributed sensing. The measurement methods enable an analysis of radiation-induced modification of the group refractive index and density of the optical fibers. The most distinct physical effect observed by us concerns the increase of the optical attenuation with rising total radiation doses. Quantitative measurement results indicate a crucial impact of fiber dopants on radiation-induced physical and sensory characteristics of silica optical fibers affected by differences in fiber fabrication techniques. Based on the obtained results, the suitability of distributed Brillouin sensing for dosimetry applications seems to be improved by modifying the refractive index profile of the fiber core.

Brillouin gain spectrum characteristics for temperature compensation in fiber optic distributed strain sensor

We studied Brillouin gain spectrum characteristics in single-mode optical fibers with different refractive index profiles to realize temperature-corrected distributed strain measurement. The measured Brillouin frequency shift (BFS) features much stronger dependence on the longitudinal strain in the sensor fiber than on the temperature distribution along the fiber optic sensor. By detection of slight structural changes in monitored civil structures, such as dams, pipelines and tunnels, the influence of temperature on the measured BFS cannot be neglected.

Protection of critical infrastructure using fiber optic sensors embedded in technical textiles

Terrorists and criminals more and more attack and destroy important infrastructures like routes, railways, bridges, tunnels, dikes and dams, important buildings. Therefore, reliable on-line and long-term monitoring systems are required to protect such critical infrastructures. Fiber optic sensors are well-suited for that. They can be installed over many kilometers and are able to measure continuously distributed strain, pressure, temperature and further mechanical and physical quantities. The very tiny optical fibers can be integrated into structures and materials and can provide information about any significant changes or damages of the structures. These so-called smart materials and smart structures are able to monitor itself or its environment. Particularly smart technical textiles with embedded fiber optic sensors have become very attractive because of their high importance for the structural health monitoring of geotechnical and masonry infrastructures. Such textiles are usually used for reinforcement of the structures; the embedded fiber optic sensors provide information about the condition of the structures and detect the presence of any damages and destructions in real time. Thus, critical infrastructures can be preventively protected. The paper will introduce this innovative field and will present the results achieved within several German and European projects.