Simultaneous multipoint acoustic emission sensing using fibre acoustic wave grating sensors with identical spectrum

Abstract

This paper introduces the development of a simultaneous multipoint acoustic emission (AE) sensing system using a narrowband tuneable laser with high power and fibre acoustic wave grating sensors (FAWGSs). The demodulation technique is the same as that used in existing methods where the narrowband laser peak is tuned to one mid-reflection point in the main lobe of a fibre Bragg grating (FBG) spectrum. However, the sensor head is changed to an FAWGS for which a FBG is installed in a strain-free configuration so that it can detect AE waves in a structure not directly but in the form of a fibre-guided acoustic wave. Therefore since the structural strain cannot make the Bragg wavelength change, multiple FBGs with identical spectrum can be connected with multiple optical paths realized by equal light intensity dividers. The possible temperature difference between the multiple FAWGSs is passively resolved by using short FBGs which provide a wider operating temperature region. Consequently, we can resolve the problem that the FBG spectrum is easily deviated from the lasing wavelength because of the strain. In addition, the simultaneous multipoint sensing capability based on a single laser improves the cost-performance ratio of the optical system as well as reducing the structural inspection time, and enabling in situ health monitoring of real structures exposed to large and dynamic strains. The feasibility of the system is demonstrated in typical applications of in situ structural health monitoring based on AE techniques.