Concepedia

Stretchable distributed fiber-optic sensors

Hedan Bai, Shuo Li, Jose Barreiros, Yaqi Tu, Clifford R. Pollock, Robert F. Shepherd

Science · 2020 · 469 citations · 27 references

TL;DR

Distributed fiber‑optic sensors have been used to monitor mechanical deformations in infrastructure such as bridges, roads, and buildings, but they are usually limited to a single variable or require complex optics for multiple properties. The study demonstrates dual‑core elastomeric optical fibers, one core containing patterned dye regions. The fibers are fabricated by molding commercially available elastomers into a clear core and an adjacent dye‑doped core; changes in optical paths in the two cores are mapped onto a color space to detect deformation. Monitoring color and intensity changes in both fibers allowed the researchers to distinguish bending, stretching, and localized pressing with a spatial resolution of about 1 cm. Bai et al.

Abstract

Colorful changes Distributed fiber-optic sensors have been used for monitoring mechanical deformations in stiff infrastructures such as bridges, roads, and buildings, but they either are limited to measuring one variable or require complex optics to measure multiple properties. Bai et al. now demonstrate dual-core elastomeric optical fibers, one of which contains patterned dye regions. The waveguides are fabricated by molding out of commercially available elastomers and integrate a clear core and an adjacent core doped with up to three macroscale dye regions. Changes in optical paths in the two cores detect deformation and map it onto a color space. By monitoring changes in the color and intensity in both elastomer-based fibers, the researchers could distinguish bending, stretching, and localized pressing with a spatial resolution down to ∼1 centimeter. Science , this issue p. 848