Analysis and performance evaluation of an all-fiber wide range interrogation system for a Bragg grating sensor array

Analysis and performance evaluation of a macro-bend fiber based interrogation system for a Bragg grating sensor array is presented. Due to the characteristic properties of the macro-bend fiber filter such as polarization and temperature dependence and the total noise associated with the ratiometric system, a best fit ratio slope is required to interrogate multiple fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) whose peak wavelengths are spread over a wide wavelength range, rather than the optimal slope for individual FBGs. In this study, we have used an FBG array with 5 FBGs with peak reflected wavelengths lying between 1525 and 1575 nm. The analysis of the system is carried out and a fiber filter with a slope which covers a wavelength range of 1525-1575 nm is selected which ensures a resolution and accuracy for all the FBG sensors in the array as close as possible to that which would be achieved with a filter with an optimal slope for each FBG. Performance evaluation of the system is carried out and the static strain, dynamic strain, and temperature are measured with the developed interrogation system.