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Multiplexed optical fiber crack sensor

  • US 8,576,392 B2
  • Filed: 04/13/2011
  • Issued: 11/05/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A crack sensor for detecting cracks in a component, said sensor comprising:

  • at least one light source generating an optical beam;

    at least one optical fiber receiving the optical beam from the at least one light source, said optical fiber including a fiber core through which the optical beam propagates and a plurality of spaced apart fiber Bragg gratings formed in the core, each fiber Bragg grating being operable to reflect a predefined and different wavelength of the optical beam back along the optical fiber and allow other wavelengths in the optical beam to propagate through the fiber Bragg grating; and

    a detector for detecting the reflected wavelengths of the optical beam from the fiber Bragg gratings, wherein a crack that forms in the component that damages or severs the fiber between fiber Bragg gratings causes loss of reflected wavelengths from at least some of the fiber Bragg gratings to identify the location of the crack.

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