Discrete strain sensor
First Claim
1. A fiber optic load senosr for sensing a load applied to a corresponding structural surface, comprising a length of fiber optic material of a selected thickness attachable to the surface, said fiber optic material being connectable to a light source and to a light detector, said fiber optic material having curved portions, said curved portions each having a curve length and curve period, said curved portions each being deformable so that the curve radius and curve period are variable in response to the load applied to the surface, said fiber optic material thickness and curve radius being selected such that light passing through said fiber optic material is actuated in linear relation to the instantaneous deformation of the fiber over a substantial range of load applied to the surface.
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Abstract
A fiber optic load sensor and method of forming the same are disclosed for sensing the load applied to a structural surface. The sensor comprises a length of fiber optic material disposed adjacent to the surface. The fiber optic material is connectable to a light source and to a light detector. The fiber optic material includes at least one curved portion deformable in response to the applied load. The curved portion is dimensioned such that the light passing through the fiber optic material is attenuated in linear relation to the deformation of the curved portion in response to the load applied to the surface.
62 Citations
19 Claims
- 1. A fiber optic load senosr for sensing a load applied to a corresponding structural surface, comprising a length of fiber optic material of a selected thickness attachable to the surface, said fiber optic material being connectable to a light source and to a light detector, said fiber optic material having curved portions, said curved portions each having a curve length and curve period, said curved portions each being deformable so that the curve radius and curve period are variable in response to the load applied to the surface, said fiber optic material thickness and curve radius being selected such that light passing through said fiber optic material is actuated in linear relation to the instantaneous deformation of the fiber over a substantial range of load applied to the surface.
- 16. A fiber optic load sensor for sensing the load applied to a structural surface, comprising a length of fiber optic material attachable to the surface, said fiber optic material being connectable to a light source and to a light detector for detecting the light from the light source passing through the length of fiber optic material, said fiber optic material being formed to have a thickness and shaped as a repeating generally sinusoidal pattern permanently formed therein, said sinusoidal pattern having a curve radius and a curve period, said curve radius and said curve period being variable in response to the applied load, said fiber optic material further being formed to have a core formed of the first material and a cladding, interfacing said core and formed of a second material, said first material, second material, fiber optic material thickness and curve radius being selected such that light passing through said length of fiber optic material is attenuated in linear relationship to changes in the load applied to the fiber optic material over a substantial range of applied load.
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18. The method of measuring the load applied to a length of fiber optic material comprising:
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forming a length of fiber optic material of a selected thickness to have a core formed of a first material and a cladding formed of a second material, said core and said cladding forming an interface therebetween; bending the length of fiber optic material to form a repeating generally sinusoidal pattern, said sinusoidal pattern having e curve radius and a curve period, said curve radius and curve period being variable in response to a load applied to the fiber optic material, the thickness and curve radius being selected such that the amount of light transmitted from the core to the cladding varies linearly in response to a load applied to the fiber optic material over a substantial load range. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification