Archive for the 'General' Category

Nov 01 2010

Fiber Optic Scour Sensors

Published by under General,OS Technology,Sensors

Fiber optic sensing has come a long way in the past decade. What were once university prototype instruments and sensors are now well qualified, commercial products. Much credit for this progress is due to a few pioneers who led the way, and one of those pioneers is Dr. Farhad Ansari of the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The Chicago Tribune recently highlighted one of Dr. Ansari’s applications. (See article) In this application, Ansari and his team installed an array of FBG scour sensors on a bridge at risk of damage from undermined foundations. If this application proves successful, these scour sensors will provide an important new tool for departments of transportation around the world. Thousands of bridges are at risk from scour, and there are few practical means for monitoring scour and its effects. For more on this scour sensor and how to access this technology, contact:

Mark P. Krivchenia
Technology Manager
University of Illinois at Chicago
Office of Technology Management
at krivchen[at]uic[dot]edu

Instruments at Salt Creek Bridge

Because these sensors are based on fiber optics, they can survive decades in this harsh environment. Also, because fiber optic sensing systems are so versatile, other FO sensors (e.g., strain, acceleration, temperature) can be added later without adding to the FO instrumentation.

Ansari’s work at UIC, as president of the International Society for Structural Helath Monitoring of Intelligent Infratructure, and as the founder of Structural Monitoring Services focuses on a central theme: advancement of measurement and analysis tools and their practical application in the field. Rather than maximizing the numbers of sensors on a structure, Dr. Ansari focuses on finding optimal numbers and types of sensors to deliver the data streams necessary — and no more. This keeps the data analysis work manageable and ensures that the structure’s owner gets actionable information.

For more on Dr. Ansari and his work, go to:

http://www.cme.uic.edu/CME/WebHome
http://ishmii.org

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Oct 29 2010

Micron Optics Releases Fiber Optic Temperature Sensing Cable

Published by under General,OS Technology,Sensors

Yesterday, Micron Optics announced the release of the os4400, a fiber optic temperature sensing cable. This cable addresses a growing need for durable, low-cost temperature sensing in areas with limited access, such as tunnels, bridges, mines, downhole and other applications where distributed measurements are needed at specific points over long distances. You can read the full press release here.

Micron Optics os4400 temperature sensing cables are available immediately. For more information, please go to our sensors page on our website or contact us directly at info(at)micronoptics(dot)com.

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Oct 27 2010

Thompson Bridge in Fermanaugh

Published by under General,Instruments,OS Technology

Micron Optics produces the most reliable, capable and widely used FO instruments, sensors, and software in the world, but it’s our integrator partners who make so many successful applications possible. One good example is Sengenia, Ltd. in Northern Ireland. They’ve highlighted a recent application in their newsletter (see excerpt below) that involved embedding a network of FBG strain gages in a bridge deck and measuring them with a Micron Optics sm125 instrument.

These sensors were needed to evaluate the performance of a new “RockBar” reinforcement material for concrete decks. In quotes from the bridge owner, it was clear that Sengenia’s expertise and Micron Optics ENLIGHT software made the process of both installing the sensors and extracting and analyzing the data fast and simple.

Through their efforts, Sengenia has demonstrated to yet another group of engineers the power of fiber optic sensing technology. Successes like this one will lead to more applications, better methods, a greater variety of sensors, and a more widespread understanding for how FO sensors can enhance and improve upon traditional structural analysis and inspection practices.

For more information about Sengenia’s capabilities, and to subscribe to their newsletter, visit their website at http://www.sengenia.com.

Excerpted from Sengenia’s newsletter:
It is known that every year millions of pounds are spent, in the UK alone, on the repair and rehabilitation of concrete infrastructure. A large proportion of this is due to the corrosion of the reinforcing steel that is used and now with the introduction of fibre bars, such as those provided by MagmaTech , it is hoped that such financial waste can be prevented.

Thompson’s bridge is a replacement bridge to carry the two-way, A class road in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The previous bridge was a pinch point and not suitable for the wide loaded vehicles that frequently use this stretch of road. The bridge is a single span, consisting of reinforced concrete abutments on piled foundations. The superstructure comprises of ‘W’ precast pre-stressed beams with a reinforced concrete slab bridge deck reinforced with RockBar.

Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), through Dr Su Taylor, were tasked with providing much of the specification details for the bridge and Sengenia worked alongside QUB for the load testing aspect of the project. Sengenia were able to use their fibre optic sensors, taking advantage of the ability to create more than one sensor along the length of a single strand of fibre, thereby reducing the cabling and therefore installation time and effort normally required. When used in tandem with the Micron Optics sm125-500 unit and Enlight software the monitoring process becomes a simplistic one, especially when taken in direct comparison with the alternative methods that were also in use through QUB.

Ben Williams, MD of MagmaTech commented ‘I was very interested to see the use of the fibre sensors actually in the field. The system used to acquire and display the data was remarkably simple to comprehend but yet clearly a highly sophisticated and powerful tool in such work. At MagmaTech we intend to pursue this further with Sengenia, looking always at how we can enhance the offering to our customers as well.’

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Oct 13 2010

Micron Optics Sensing System Approved for Use in Explosive Environments

Published by under General

Certification opens new markets for Micron Optics Fiber Bragg Grating Based Optical Sensing Systems.
On October 7, 2010 — Micron Optics, Inc., a leading provider of innovative equipment for fiber optic sensing and laser imaging, announced that its dynamic Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) optical sensing systems was certified for use in explosive environments according to the International Electrotechnical Commission’s Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEX). Micron Optics now offers dynamic optical sensing instruments, modules, and sensors for continuous long-term use in the presence of explosive atmosphere. The DNV 10 ATEX 82688 certification was conferred by the professional testing and qualification firm of Det Norske Veritas AS.

With this international certification, global customers working with explosive environments can be assured that Micron Optics’ dynamic optical sensing systems meet the IEC’s standards for intrinsically safe products. Intrinsically safe products receive their classification because both their power use and power storage properties are below the levels required to set off an explosion in a hazardous area.

For more information, see the full press release.

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