Francisco M. Araújo

Fiber optic hot-wire flowmeter based on a metallic coated hybrid long period grating/fiber Bragg grating structure

In this work an all-optical hot-wire flowmeter based on a silver coated fiber combining a long period grating and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) structure is proposed. Light from a pump laser at 1480  nm propagating down the fiber is coupled by the long period grating into the fiber cladding and is absorbed by the silver coating deposited on the fiber surface over the Bragg grating structure. This absorption acts like a hot wire raising the fiber temperature locally, which is effectively detected by the FBG resonance shift. The temperature increase depends on the flow speed of the surrounding air, which has the effect of cooling the fiber. It is demonstrated that the Bragg wavelength shift can be related to the flow speed. A flow speed resolution of 0.08  m/s is achieved using this new configuration.

Strain sensitivity control of fiber Bragg grating structures with fused tapers

We report on the analysis and experimental validation of the strain sensitivity dependences of a fiber Bragg grating written in standard optical fiber when combined with fused tapers. By controlling the difference between the cross sections of the fused taper and the Bragg grating, the strain sensitivity of the Bragg wavelength can be changed by acting on the gauge length. The strain sensing characteristics of an interferometric structure formed by fabricating a fused taper in the middle of a fiber Bragg grating are also reported.

Intrinsic Fabry–Pérot Cavity Sensor Based on Etched Multimode Graded Index Fiber for Strain and Temperature Measurement

Two Fabry-Perot interferometers based on chemical etching in multimode graded index fibers are fabricated and their response to temperature and strain are compared. Chemical etching is applied in the graded index fiber end creating an air cavity. The interferometric cavity is formed when the graded index fiber with the air concavity is spliced to a single-mode fiber. The intrinsic sensors present high sensitivity to strain and low sensitivity to temperature. For the 62.5 μm core fiber, sensitivities of 6.99 pm/με and, 0.95 pm/°C were obtained for strain and temperature, respectively. The sensor based in the 50 μm core fiber, on the other hand, presented sensitivities of 4.06 pm/με and -0.84 pm/°C for strain and temperature, respectively.

Optical fiber refractometry based on multimode interference

This paper presents an overview of optical fiber sensors based on multimode interference with a focus on refractometric applications. A specific configuration is presented to measure the refractive index of the surrounding liquid based on the Fresnel reflection in the fiber tip, combined with a simple interrogation technique that uses two fiber Bragg gratings as discrete optical sources, with the measurand information encoded in the relative intensity variation of the reflected signals. A resolution of 1.75×10−3 RIU is achieved.

Active illumination single-pixel camera based on compressive sensing

We present an optical imaging system based on compressive sensing (CS) along with its principal mathematical aspects. Although CS is undergoing significant advances and empowering many discussions and applications throughout various fields, this article focuses on the analysis of a single-pixel camera. This work was the core for the development of a single-pixel camera approach based on active illumination. Therefore, the active illumination concept is described along with the experimental results, which were very encouraging toward the development of compressive-sensing-based cameras for various applications, such as pixel-level programmable gain imaging.

Mandrel-Based Fiber-Optic Sensors for Acoustic Detection of Partial Discharges—a Proof of Concept

Acoustic emission monitoring is often used in the diagnosis of electrical and mechanical incipient faults in high-voltage apparatus. Partial discharges are a source of failure in power transformers, and the differentiation from other sources of acoustic emissions is of the utmost importance. This paper reports the development of a new sensor concept-mandrel-based fiber-optic sensor-for the detection of incipient faults in oil-filled power transformers, taking direct measurements inside a transformer. These sensors can be placed in the inner surface of the transformer tank wall, not affecting the insulation integrity of the structure, and improving fault detection and location. The applicability of these acoustic sensors in air, water, and oil is investigated and the paper presents the promising results obtained, which will enable the industrial development of practical solutions.

Weldable fibre Bragg grating sensors for steel bridge monitoring

For applications related to the structural health monitoring of steel bridges, novel weldable strain and temperature sensors based on fibre Bragg gratings were developed. These sensors, which can be directly welded to metallic structures, reveal linear responses over typical required measurement ranges and stability over thousands of load and temperature cycles. Proper installation procedures and in-field mechanical protection were also developed and implemented. The significance of the developed sensors was demonstrated through the installation of a complete sensing network on a new circular pedestrian bridge in Aveiro, Portugal, where it was used for loading tests, and also for in-service monitoring of its structural health.

High-resolution hyperspectral single-pixel imaging system based on compressive sensing

For the first time, a high-resolution hyperspectral single-pixel imaging system based on compressive sensing is presented and demonstrated. The system integrates a digital micro-mirror device array to optically compress the image to be acquired and an optical spectrum analyzer to enable high spectral resolution. The systems ability to successfully reconstruct images with 10 pm spectral resolution is proven.

A Smart Skin PVC Foil Based on FBG Sensors for Monitoring Strain and Temperature

Electronic products, including sensors, are often used in harsh environments. However, many parameters, such as severe weather conditions, high electronic noise, or dangerous chemical compounds in situ, may compromise the required high reliability. Therefore, development of a reliable sensing solution for monitoring those extreme conditions may become a very challenging task. This paper presents a smart skin foil developed to meet this specific need. Fiber Bragg grating sensors, one of the most reliable sensor solutions nowadays, were embedded in a thin foil made of polyvinyl chloride, giving rise to a smart structure with high durability and high resistance, and a dimensional stability above 99%. In addition, the fabrication processes used are based on a technology that allows the development of large sensing areas. The sensing foil shows a linear stretching profile, with a slope of 7.8 nm per 1% elongation. After submitting the developed structure to temperature cycles, it revealed a thermal behavior of 0.1 nm/°C. Since the smart sensing structure was fabricated using available industrial fabrication processes, it is a feasible and ready-to-market solution.

Sensitivity Improvement of a Humidity Sensor Based on Silica Nanospheres on a Long-Period Fiber Grating

This work addresses a new configuration that improves the sensitivity of a humidity sensor based on a long-period fiber grating coated with a SiO2-nanospheres film. An intermediate higher refractive index overlay, deposited through Electrostatic Self-Assembly, is placed between the fiber cladding and the humidity sensitive film in order to increase the total effective refractive index of the coating. With this intermediate design, a three-fold improvement in the sensitivity was obtained. Wavelength shifts up to 15 nm against 5 nm were achieved in a humidity range from 20% to 80%.