Integrated Vibration Detection System Based on an Optical Fiber Sensor

J. A. Herrera-Estvez (1), L. E. Alans-Carranza(1), J.A. lvarez-Chvez(2), G E SandovalRomero(3) , A. Gmez-Vieyra(4), G.G. Prez-Snchez*(4)

1. Tecnolgico de Estudios Superiores de Coacalco,Av. 16 de Septiembre #54, Col. Cabecera
Municipal, Coacalco de Berriozbal, Edo. Mxico.
2. Centro de Investigacin e Innovacin Tecnolgica -IPN, Cerrada de CECATI S/N,Col.
Santa Catarina, c.p. 02250 D.F. Mexico
3. Centro de Ciencias Aplicadas y Desarrollo Tecnolgico, Universidad Nacional Autnoma de
Mexico, Apartado Postal 70-186, Mxico D. F., 04510, Mexico.
4. Departamento de Ciencias Bsicas, Universidad Autnoma Metropolitana, Unidad
Azcapotzalco, Av. San Pablo 180, Azcapotzalco, Col. Reynosa Tamaulipas, Azcapotzalco
Mxico D. F. 02200
Corresponding author email: *ggps@correo.azc.uam.mx
ABSTRACT:
The detection of internal and external vibrational changes in structures is currently an important
area of theoretical and experimental studies in fields of structural health, building damage
prevention and mechanical stress reduction. The main goals are the detection, prediction and the
correction of mechanical and structural failures on furniture, buildings and historical monuments.
An integrated vibration detection system is proposed at its development stage. The experimental
setup consists on a 980nm laser diode as the pump source, working at an average power of
100mW used to pump a piece of Er-doped fiber which was spliced to 2m segment of SMF-28
fiber. A 5cm segment of this fiber was stripped and then put on top of a long period fiber grating
with a 500m period. The load was placed on top of an acrylic of similar dimensions, in order to
determine the minimum force that the set-up is able to measure. Such force will be employed in
the final set-up. The proposed device allows for loads from 4.48 Kg to 14Kg, corresponding to
voltage values from 422mV up to 804mV, so far with no rupture. The operating principle is the
change in refractive index applied by the external force into the core which then modifies the
mode propagation observed in the OSA as semi-periodical spectral changes. The maximum
operating sensitivity was measured to be at 200gr load changes. The accuracy of the proposed
device is still being studied as we still need to validate our measurements.
The signal was detected with a photo-detector, before it was amplified via a trans-impedance
circuit and finally acquired using a NI-USB-6212 by National Instruments for up to 64 KS/s.
This signal was then processed in real time, via a proprietary code. The code allows to show
signal plots on the time and frequency domain.