Open Access
Random DFB fiber laser for remote (200 km) sensor monitoring using hybrid WDM/TDM
(IEEE, 2016) Leandro González, Daniel; Miguel Soto, Verónica de; Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this paper, a random distributed feedback fiber laser is proposed as a multiplexing scheme for ultralong range measurements (up to 200 km). Optical fiber sensors are time and wavelength multiplexed overcoming one of the main limitations of long-range sensing setups, which is their limited multiplexing capability. The direct modulation of the laser's cavity allows the interrogation of sensors by measuring the reflected power for different wavelengths and distances. Fiber Bragg gratings placed at different fiber locations and wavelengths have been interrogated in two different sensor networks. In addition, in order to improve the performance of the system, some features have been analyzed.
Open Access
Multicore fiber sensors for strain measurement towards traffic monitoring
(SPIE, 2023) Sánchez González, Arturo; Pradas Martínez, Javier; Corera Orzanco, Íñigo; Bravo Acha, Mikel; Leandro González, Daniel; Dauliat, Romain; Jamier, Raphael; Roy, Philippe; Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA06-2022
In this work, two new interferometric sensors based on multicore optical fibers for the measurement of strain with the ultimate goal of traffic monitoring are presented. The operating principle of each sensor relied on the monitoring of the phase shift difference accumulated between the supermodes of the structure of the multicore segment in a full round trip. The strain characterization for both sensors resulted in a linear response, with sensitivities of -4.073·10-3 rad/με and - 4.389·10-3 rad/με for the aligned and V-shaped cases respectively, and one-hour instabilities below 4.6·10-3 rad with a 95% confidence level. These results suggest its feasibility in applications requiring high sensitivities over very wide strain ranges, such as heavy-vehicle traffic monitoring. To corroborate the hypothesis, both sensors were integrated into the pavement and their response to the traffic was analyzed.
Open Access
Compact optical fiber lasers and optical fiber sensors assisted by femtosecond laser inscription of plane-by-plane FBGs
(Optica, 2020) Roldán Varona, Pablo; Pallarés Aldeiturriaga, D.; Rodríguez Cobo, Luis; Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; López Higuera, José Miguel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
Development of a high temperature sensor based on optical fiber l aser generated from a cavity of reduced dimensions (43 mm) in Er-doped fiber. The mirror FBGs have been inscribed with femtosecond laser using the slit beam technique (Pl-b-Pl).
Open Access
Micro-drilled optical fiber for enhanced laser strain sensors
(SPIE, 2019) Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Bravo Acha, Mikel; Roldán Varona, Pablo; Leandro González, Daniel; Rodríguez Cobo, Luis; López Higuera, José Miguel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación
In this work, we present an experimental measurement of temperature and strain sensitivities of a micro-drilled optical fiber (MDOF). The MDOF consisted of a quasi-randomly distributed reflector along a single mode fiber (SMF). A fiber cavity laser based on MDOF was experimentally studied, attaining a single-wavelength laser emission centered at 1568.6nm. The output power level obtained from this single-laser oscillation when pumped at 140mW was around - 9.6dBm, and an optical signal to noise ratio (OSNR) of around 45dB was measured. Although temperature sensitivities of fiber Bragg gratings used as sensors are similar to our MDOF, strain sensitivity is enhanced around one order of magnitude when the MDOF was used.
Open Access
Remote-time division multiplexing of bending sensors using a broadband light source
(Hindawi Publishing Corporation, 2012) Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
This work experimentally demonstrates a remote sensing network which interrogates bending sensors using time-division multiplexing techniques and a broadband light source. The bending sensors are located 50 km away from the monitoring station. They are based on a simple tie displacement sensor and offer high-resolution measurements of displacement.
Open Access
Multiparameter sensor based on a multiinterferometric serial configuration for temperature and strain measurements
(IEEE, 2021) Pérez Herrera, Rosa Ana; Bravo Acha, Mikel; Leandro González, Daniel; Novais, Susana; Pradas Martínez, Javier; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this work, a multi-parameter point sensor based on the combination of Fabry-Perot (FP) and the anti-resonant (AR) reflecting guidance in cascade configuration is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. This structure, based on FP interference and AR reflecting guidance, was fabricated with two different air micro-cavities. The attained experimental results showed different strain and temperature sensitivities for the antiresonance contribution. However, when analyzing the FP interference, only strain sensitivity was observed, demonstrating that this air micro-cavity was also insensitive to temperature variations.
Open Access
Novel sensor design using photonic crystal fibres for monitoring the onset of corrosion in reinforced concrete structures
(IEEE, 2014) McCague, Colum; Fabian, Matthias; Karimi, Mohammad; Bravo Acha, Mikel; Jaroszewicz, Leszek R.; Ingeniería Eléctrica y Electrónica; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa eta Elektronikoa
In this paper, a novel sensing technique has been designed and investigated for the direct, in situ detection of steel corrosion distributed in reinforced concrete structures. At present, structural health monitoring in reinforced concrete structures is generally focused on monitoring the corrosion risk of the reinforcing steel. It is of significant importance, however, to inform industry of both the onset of corrosion and the corrosion rate as these are key contributors to structural degradation and thus evaluating the service life of the structures. This paper aims to address the above challenges by describing a novel corrosion sensor design using birefringent photonic crystal fibres. The technique exploits fully both the birefringence of the fibres for force/pressure measurement and their very low temperature sensitivity to detect the onset of corrosion. This new type of sensor not only determines the onset of corrosion but also allows for better monitoring along the length of a reinforcement bar.
Open Access
Reinforced concrete structural corrosion monitoring using Hi-Bi photonic crystal fibres in a fiber loop structure
(SPIE, 2014-06-02) Bravo Acha, Mikel; McCague, Colum; Fabian, Matthias; Jaroszewicz, Leszek R.; Mergo, Paweł; Sun, Tong; Grattan, Kenneth T. V.; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza
A novel sensing approach has been developed for in-situ corrosion monitoring of steel reinforced concrete structures, using an interferometric Sagnac sensor system based on a Hi-Bi photonic crystal fibre (PCF). To do so an accurate fibre alignment procedure has been implemented in order to improve the performance of the sensor system embedded into the concrete structure when it is subjected to an accelerated corrosion test. The positive results obtained have confirmed the effectiveness of such a sensor system for applications in structural health monitoring.
Open Access
One-year analysis of road condition using FBG arrays
(SPIE, 2023) Corera Orzanco, Íñigo; Pradas Martínez, Javier; Leandro González, Daniel; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoaren eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritzaren; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa, PJUPNA06-2022
In this work, it is presented an analysis of FBG arrays installed in a public road. The arrays were installed in a newly paved urban road and were monitored for more than one year. The study evidences the permanent deformation of the wearing course and the degradation of the reflected spectra of the sensors.
Open Access
Optical fiber pH sensors based on PAni-coated microstructured optical fibers
(IEEE, 2024-07-10) Rodríguez Rodríguez, Armando; Lopes, Guilherme; Nedoma, Jan; Pereira, Sónia O.; Fernandes, Antonio J. S.; Jamier, Raphael; Roy, Philippe; Bravo Acha, Mikel; López-Amo Sáinz, Manuel; Marques, Carlos; Ingeniería Eléctrica, Electrónica y de Comunicación; Ingeniaritza Elektrikoa, Elektronikoa eta Telekomunikazio Ingeniaritza; Institute of Smart Cities - ISC; Universidad Pública de Navarra / Nafarroako Unibertsitate Publikoa
In this article, we report the analysis of a novel optical fiber pH sensor based in polyaniline (PAni) coating applied on a trenched core-free (only-bridge) silica fiber. The results are compared to another pH sensor based on side-polished silica fiber. The pH-sensitive polymer is synthesized over the fiber sample by means of oxidative polymerization, keeping records of the time where the reaction occurs to improve the sensitivity. The response to pH is enhanced in the case of the trenched core-free bridge fiber due to the higher interaction of the evanescent field with the PAni film and, thus, the surrounding media. The sensitivity in the linear zone of operation is 1.1 mW/pH, and a total transmittance of 55% in the pH range is 4.2-8.1. The repeatability of both sensors was checked, showing a high capability to perform studies in liquid samples due to its temperature independence, good sensitivity, and long-term stability.