To date I have blogged about the use of fiber optic sensors in the geotechnical (DUSEL) and wind energy (Sandia National Labs) sectors for structural health monitoring. We have now released a case study showing how FOS is being utilized in the nuclear power industry to monitor post tensioned tendons in a nuclear containment structure on an operational nuclear power plant. This pilot project is still currently active and the system is still collecting data.

- Alan Turner

What do the following have in common:
- Measurement of huge strains of 20 to 40%
- Detection of 0.04 psi changes in hydrostatic pressure over a range of more than 13,000 psi
- Sensing of tiny electromagnetic fields with a resolution of 1 milliTesla

Answer:
1) Each are fiber optic sensors relying on fiber Bragg gratings and/or special high birefringence fibers
2) And each depend on the Micron Optics sm125 interrogator to achieve these results.

Since the initial release of the sm125 in 2004, it has become the mainstay for research, development, and deployment of fiber optic sensing solutions. Users can count on the internal NIST-traceable gas cell for accurate measurements on every sweep of the powerful laser. The sm125 has helped increase the pace of growth and acceptance of fiber optic sensors.

Learn more about these applications from those who’ve developed them (clicking on the links below takes you to another website containing the paper referenced):
A large-scale strain sensor based on fiber Bragg grating
Hydrostatic Pressure Sensing with High Birefringence Photonic Crystal Fibers
Magnetic Field Measurements Based on Terfenol Coated Photonic Crystal Fibers

See more about the sm125 here

- Tom Graver

Recently Micron Optics announced the expansion of the company’s global sales and system integrators network, adding seven new companies including CMIWS in Japan, Marmota in Switzerland, Dimense OY in Finland, Impulso Economico Digital Mexicano SA de CV in Mexico, Capris SA in Costa Rica and Imacu Ingenieria & Servicios and Geosinergia Ltda in Chile. Micron Optics is proud to be working with these new system integrators to provide customers with additional resources to find the best solution for their challenging civil, industrial, power, aerospace, and transportation applications.

To contact our system integrators, go to our contact page.

Read the full press release here