Multiplexed fiber optic displacement sensors

A multiplexed bend loss type single-mode fiber-optic sensor system was prepared to measure the displacement of several cm of the civil engineering structures such as many bridges, tunnels and various buildings. This bend loss type fiber-optic sensor used the signal difference between two reflection signals due to various bend losses generating at a pair of optical connectors by using OTDR (optical time domain reflectometer) for measuring displacements. The experiments were conducted for showing the measurement feasibility on the range of 10 cm, and the multiplexing experiments were also performed to measure the displacements of 5 measuring positions of an object by setting these 5 fiber-optic sensors on a single mode fiber simultaneously.