Este trabalho apresenta resultados de processos pré-tratamento da fibra ótica e/ou pós-tratamento das redes de Bragg, com o objetivo de estabilizar e garantir a operação dessas redes por períodos longos, em temperaturas da ordem de 300°C a 800°C. Resultados do crescimento das redes em fibra ótica padrão G-652 com diâmetro nominal e em tapers, além de fibras óticas pré-aquecidas em chama butano-propano, mostraram aumento da eficiência da gravação pela redução do diâmetro ou aquecimento prévio da fibra. Redes fortes, supostamente de tipo IIA, produzidas em fibra G-652 não hidrogenada, apresentaram estimativas de sobrevida de 17000 horas operando a 400 °C e de 3000 horas operando em 600°C. As redes regeneradas produzidas em fibra G-652 hidrogenada e em fibras fotossensíveis mostraram eficiência de regeneração proporcional ao comprimento e ao nível de saturação da rede semente. Redes regeneradas apresentaram estimativa de sobrevida de aproximadamente 5600 horas a 600 °C e não houve sobrevida por longos períodos de tempo operando em temperaturas iguais ou superiores à da regeneração. São mostrados ciclos de tratamento térmico pra a estabilização das redes IIA. Resultados para sensibilidade térmica das redes mostraram não haver histerese em ciclo aquecimento-resfriamento. Uma solução para encapsulamento da rede através do uso de tubo cerâmico de alumina mostrou-se satisfatória nas regiões de temperatura mencionadas, sem redução no desempenho.

Neste trabalho é apresentado um sistema de leitura de redes de Bragg derivado da técnica por filtro Fabry-Perot sintonizável. A técnica apresentada é implementada através de um sistema atuador piezelétrico que modula mecanicamente uma rede de Bragg de referência, com seu espectro de reflexão convoluido com o espectro de reflexão de uma rede sensora. A técnica desenvolvida apresenta vantagens em relação ao processo original por ter implementação mais simples, menor custo e melhor discriminação de posição espectral.

An alternative technique that uses a flame-brush at high temperature to enhance UV light photosensitivity in an optical fiber is described. An extreme low-cost air aspirated propane-butane mini-torch is used, which produces a lower temperature flame than the one in the flame-brush original technique. It is shown that this change in the previous technique is also capable of improving photosensitivity and allowing the fiber Bragg grating imprinting process to be accelerated. Since the flame-brush photosensitivity enhancement process is designed to operate in an automated fiber taper rig, the process was evaluated in optical fiber tapers with different diameters. In this case, changes in photosensitivity are observed in the tapers in addition to the intrinsic photosensitivity occurring in the pristine fiber without being tapered.

Abstract Structural health monitoring can detect anomalies in time, allowing the implementation of more efficient maintenance and repair actions in special engineering structures. An alternative in the monitoring and evaluation of structures in civil engineering is the use of optical fibers inscribed with Bragg gratings (FBG or Fiber Bragg Grating). This paper aims to compare available techniques to estimate the elastic module of cementitious composites, as well as contribute to the application of optical fiber sensors in the monitoring of strain, natural vibration frequency, damping coefficient and elastic modulus of mortar beams. The FBG sensors manufactured and calibrated by the authors presented a good precision for measuring those parameters in mortar samples. The results show that FBG sensors and strain gauge sensors present a similar result for strain and estimation of the elastic module (static and dynamic), therefore, bare FBGs could be further investigated for non-destructive testing.

Abstract This paper proposes the use of fiber Bragg gratings (FBG) in thermal monitoring of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Results acquired from FBG sensors were compared with two commonly used temperature sensing techniques in PV modules: PT100 sensors and infrared cameras. The experiments were performed using a PV module in actual operating conditions (varying ambient temperature and wind speed). Temperature changes in PV module were monitored with 27 FBG sensors installed on its front surface. During the experiments the ambient temperature, intensity of solar radiation and wind velocity were also monitored. The acquired results showed that FBG sensing technology has a potential for the proposed application.

This paper proposes a new technique to monitor the junction temperature of an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) through direct measurement using an optical fiber sensor mounted on the chip structure. Some features of the sensor such as electromagnetic immunity, small size and fast response time allow the identification of temperature changes generated by the energy loss during device operation. In addition to the online monitoring of the junction temperature, results show the thermal characteristics of the IGBT, which can be used to develop an accurate model to simulate the heat generated during the device conduction and switching processes.

This paper reports an effective method of packaging a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) for the simultaneous measurement of temperature and strain. The technique consists of embedding two fiber Bragg grating sensors inside a polymeric material with different geometrical characteristics. The mechanical and thermal characterizations of the optical transducer were performed. Then a matrix equation used measurements of the wavelength shifts from the two sensors and yielded information about the temperature and strain coefficients. The preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of the encapsulation technique allowing measurements of temperature and strain in smart structures and harsh environments. The experimental procedure provides robustness to the sensor and the matrix equation approach has the potential to determine simultaneously the strain and temperature coefficients.

Objective: To evaluate the initial forces generated by two types of palatal expansion appliances, through fiber optic sensors, in elastomeric models. Materials and Methods: An elastomeric model simulating the upper dental arch was fabricated. The sensors were placed adjacent to the first premolars and the first molars roots (apical, cervical, vestibular, palatal). Hyrax and Haas palatal expanders were fitted onto the dental arch. Activation of the screw was performed 4 times. The variations in wavelengths of each sensor during the activations were recorded. ANOVA and Games-Howell were used (P <.05). Results: In the first premolars, the force generated by Hyrax was higher than that generated by Haas in the cervical and apical regions of the palatal and vestibular surfaces, respectively; in the first molars, the force was higher in the cervical vestibular region than that in the cervical palatal region for both the appliances; in Hyrax, the force was higher in the apical vestibular than in the apical palatine in tooth 14 (P <.05). There was no difference between the devices for each activation; the total force generated by Hyrax was equal to that of Haas (P <.05). Conclusions: The fiber optic sensors were effective in measuring the initial forces generated by the studied palatal expanders. Hyrax and Haas palatal expanders produced similar forces. Greater force was recorded on the vestibular surfaces.