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fiber optic sensing in various industries

Riding the Wave of Innovation: Advancements in Fiber Optic Sensing Technology

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, one area that continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible is fiber optic sensing. The latest developments in this field are not only fascinating but also hold the promise of revolutionizing industries that rely on precise measurements. From enhancing accuracy to improving sensitivity and reliability, the strides made […]

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Fiber Optic Sensing Results and Benefits

Strain Gauges vs Fiber Optic Sensing, Part 3 of 3: Results and Benefits

Results The beam response subjected to a point force was obtained by hanging a weight with known magnitude at the end of the beam for a short period. Four different weights (500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 grams) were used to obtain eight instances of the beam response producing tensile and compressive strains at the instrumented

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distributed fiber optic sensing

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing – A Catalyst for Innovation

For decades, discrete point sensing technologies such as strain gauges and thermocouples have served as reliable tools for measuring strain and temperature. However, the concept of ‘good enough’ has often hindered innovation in the field. The emergence of distributed fiber optic sensing platforms has revolutionized the measurement landscape by offering spatially continuous, real-time data and

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Advancing Structural Health Monitoring: Harnessing Fiber Optic Strain Sensing Technology

Sensuron’s OFDR Technology and Structural Health Monitoring In an era where the integrity of our infrastructure and the safety of complex structures are paramount, Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) emerges as a critical field of study. Aging infrastructure, extreme weather conditions, and the ever-increasing demands for safety require us to continuously innovate and enhance our monitoring

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fiber optic distributed strain sensing for structural health monitoring

Fiber Optic Sensor Installation Methods

Fiber optic sensing (FOS) systems can provide high-fidelity distributed strain measurements in various industries such as aerospace, automotive, structural health monitoring, and civil engineering. Proper fiber optic sensor installation is crucial to obtain accurate and useful strain measurements. Unlike foil strain gauges, fiber is often suitable for embedment. Sensuron’s FOS offers hundreds to thousands of

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Fiber Optic Sensing Sensitivity and Setup

Strain Gauges vs Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing, Part 2 of 3: Sensitivity and Setup

Fiber Optic Strain Sensitivity The two direct measurements of all Sensuron interrogators are mechanical strain and temperature. This is due to the inherent sensitivity of the Bragg wavelength, as seen below in the well-known Bragg equation. In the absence of thermal effects, obtaining the strain from the above equation is very straight forward. The temperature

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Strain Gauges vs Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing

Strain Gauges vs Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing, Part 1 of 3: Introduction

Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing (FOS) systems have an intrinsic advantage over traditional Strain Gauge (SG) technology, namely they are capable of measuring strain along the sensing fiber in multiple locations. Sensuron’s FOS system developed in collaboration with NASA is capable of measuring strain at over 2000 locations along a 13m fiber. A single fiber that

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Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation by Ensyso and Sensuron

Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation by Ensyso and Sensuron

In close collaboration with NASA, Sensuron developed compact fiber optic sensing systems that can provide continuous strain measurements. One major challenge facing the development of prominent nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDE) tools has been a lack of fine spatial resolution from sensors. Sensuron’s advanced fiber optic sensing platforms resolve this issue with spatial resolution down

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Cost Comparison of Fiber Optic Sensing Vs Strain Gauges

Cost Comparison – Fiber Optic Sensing vs Strain Gauges

Sensuron’s fully distributed fiber optic sensing technology enables a paradigm shift to take place in the areas of structural testing and monitoring. One frequently overlooked aspect of this shift is the potential cost savings when compared with the use of traditional sensors. For example, thousands of fiber optic strain gauges can be installed on an

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Static Strain affordable distributed Fiber Optic Sensing

New Affordable Distributed Fiber Optic Sensing Platform Now Available

Distributed fiber optic sensing has traditionally been a steep entry price technology to get behind. It has been a common issue for many years that has led many engineers to look for other alternatives when they see the price tag. This has adversely affected the technology’s penetration in the marketplace. Fortunately, Sensuron is pleased to

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Accelerated Lifecycle and Fatigue Testing

Fatigue Testing – A clear advantage of Fiber Optic Sensing over Strain Gauges

One widespread application where FOS technology exhibits superior performance over foil strain gauges is in the fatigue testing of components, sub-assemblies, and full-scale structures. Demand for full-scale fatigue testing continues to increase, specifically in the aerospace industry where there is significant interest in extending the service life of aging aircraft well past the intended design

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Sensor Density of Strain Gauges Vs Fiber Optics Sensing

Sensor density of strain gauges vs fiber optic sensing

Due to the time and resource intensive installation process, traditional electrical strain gauges are often deployed in limited numbers. Because of budgetary or schedule constraints, engineers are often forced to determine critical points throughout the structure where individual strain gauges will be installed. This lack of comprehensive coverage creates unforeseen risks that can translate into

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Fiber Optic Sensing Vs. Strain Gauges

Fiber Optic Sensing vs Strain Gauges – Installation Effort/Complexity

Any experienced experimental stress analysis engineer would agree that the quality of a strain gauge installation greatly influences the accuracy of the measurement. Simply put, a strain gauge can only function as intended if the substrate strain is transferred to the gauge properly, which requires comprehensive expertise from the installer. As a matter of fact,

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Structural Health Monitoring Onboard Nasa's X-56A

Sensuron enables real-time structural health monitoring onboard X-56 NASA’s flexible wing aircraft

In contrast to the stiff, rigid wings found on most commercial aircraft, flexible wing technology is considered essential to next generation, fuel efficient aircraft. However, flexible wings are susceptible to “flutter,” or highly destructive aeroelastic instability. The Lockheed Martin X-56A multi-utility technology testbed (MUTT) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) – a modular high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) technology

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The Future of Fiber Optic Sensing

Fiber optic sensing: The past, present, and exciting future

Over the past 60 years, fiber optic sensing (FOS) has been used to enhance and test the integrity, efficiency, safety, and durability of structures, vehicles, medical devices, and more across a multitude of industries. Advancements over the past five years have enabled FOS to expand its abilities to include unprecedented levels of data and sensing

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Distributed Strain Sensing In Composites

What Lies Within…How Distributed Strain Sensing Plays a Role in Lifecycle Testing for Composites

Composite materials are taking over the aerospace, automotive, marine, aviation, civil engineering and sports/leisure industries. And with good reason. Composites include materials which are usually stronger, lighter, or less expensive than traditional manufactured materials. They usually consist of a reinforcement (often a high-performance fiber such as carbon or glass) and a matrix (such as epoxy

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fatigue testing on aging aircraft

We’re All Getting Older: Accelerated Lifecycle and Fatigue Testing

Shrinking military budgets often necessitate the use of vehicles and aircraft well beyond their service lives. For example, according to STARS and STRIPES, among the Navy’s concerns is a rapidly aging Ready Reserve Force of 46 transport ships, which each average 44 years of age. Similar problems face the Air Force. In 1980, the average

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nondestructive evaluation

$2 Trillion in US Infrastructure Repairs Will Spur Nondestructive Evaluation Initiatives

Earlier this year, the White House agreed to spend up to $2 trillion to help fix our nation’s aging infrastructure. While the largest chunk will likely go to roads, bridges, and transit, there is also talk of improvements for wastewater, harbors, and airports, as well as a more efficient energy grid to transmit energy over

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Florida International University Bridge Collapses

FIU Bridge Collapse: The True Value of Structural Health Monitoring

It’s been a year and a half since a pedestrian bridge collapsed at Florida International University in March of 2018, killing six people. Recently, OSHA came out with a 115-page report concluding that the tragedy could very well have been prevented. Just hours before the bridge collapsed, its design engineers inspected the deep structural cracks

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Distributed Strain and Temperature Sensing – A Thousand Points of Light

Organizations that put a premium on safety and reliability have been using test and measurement solutions for years to validate structural integrity (strain), moderate temperature, and gain insight into places not visible with the human eye. Traditionally, strain and temperature were measured using electrical sensing technologies, such as foil (strain) gauges and electrical vibrating wire.

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