Acoustic emission detection using intensity-modulated
DFB fiber laser sensor
Tan Yang (杨 郯)
1
, Ying Song (宋 颖)
1
, Wentao Zhang (张文涛)
2,
*, and Fang Li (李 芳)
2
1
School of Traffic and Transportation, Shijiazhuang Tiedao University, Shijiazhuang 050043, China
2
Optoelectronic System Lab, Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100083, China
*Corresponding author: zhangwt@semi.ac.cn
Received August 27, 2016; accepted October 14, 2016; posted online November 14, 2016
The bonded distributed feedback (DFB) fiber laser (FL) acoustic emission sensor and the intensity response of
the DFB-FL to external acoustic emissions are investigated. The dynamic sensitivity of the DFB-FL is calibrated
by a referenced piezoelectric receiver. In the DFB-FL we used here, the minimum detectable signal is
2×10
−6
m∕s at 5 kHz. Using wavelet packet technology, the collected signals are analyzed, which confirms
that an intensity-modulated DFB-FL sensor can be used to detect acoustic emission signals.
OCIS codes: 060.2370, 140.3490, 140.3510.
doi: 10.3788/COL201614.120602.
The acoustic emission (AE) technique as a kind of new
nondestructive testing technology has a broad potential
application in the field of nondestructive testing.
Traditional AE sensors are usually made of piezoelectric
(PZT) ceramic materials, which are not only susceptible
to electromagnetic interference, but also unsuitable for
being embedded into structures. Fiber optic sensors have
considerable advantages over traditional PZT sensors,
such as a small diameter, light weight, flexibility, immun-
ity to electromagnetic interference, durability, ease of
installation and multiplexing, and a simultaneous mea-
surement of temperature and strain
[1–5]
. These character-
istics are very suitable for real-time health monitoring
of structures in their service life cycle
[3,6]
. Recently, distrib-
uted feedback (DFB) fiber laser (FL) -based sensors, in-
cluding strain sensing
[6,7]
, and acoustic sensors
[8–10]
have
attracted a lot of interest due to their higher resolution.
Compared with the fiber Bragg grating (FBG), DFB-
FL sensors have an ultra-narrow line-width and higher
output power, which result in an ultrahigh strain resolu-
tion
[11,12]
. Many papers use the interference method of
demodulation, however, the method of demodulation sys-
tem is complex, and the cost is high. Using the intensity
characteristics of the DFB-FL to detect a signal, the
demodulation system is simple, and the detection of the
signal frequency band is wide
[13]
.
In this Letter, we present the bonded intensity response
of the DFB-FL to the external AE signal, and the acoustic
measurement based on the AE is done on an aluminum
plate to prove the feasibility of the sensing scheme. We
reveal the sensitivity response curve of the intensity-type
DFB-FL sensor to external AE signals and explain the
minimum of the stress wave that can be detected by
the method.
First, we explain the focus of this Letter, which is to use
the intensity characteristics of the DFB-FL as the receiver
of the AE signal. When there is external AE signal applied
on the phase-shift grating, the fiber is physically stressed
due to the elasticity of the fiber, and the refractive index
of the fiber is modifie d because of the photo-elasticity
[14]
.
The relationship between the length of the fiber grating
(l), the refractive index (n), and the elastic wave can
be expressed as
ΔlðtÞ¼l
0
−
ð1 − 2μÞP
ðtÞ
l
E
;
Δn
ðtÞ
¼ n
0
þ
n
3
P
ðtÞ
ð1 − 2μÞð2P
12
þ P
11
Þ
2E
;
(1)
where P
ðtÞ
is the amplitude of the elastic waves, E is the
Young’s modulus of the fiber, P
11
and P
12
are elasto-
optical coefficients, and μ is Poisson’s ratio of the fiber.
Therefore, the grating coupling coefficient and the
refractive index of the FL influences its output power.
As a result, the effect of the externa l AE signal modula-
tion, which may contribute significan tly to the DFB-FL’s
intensity, should be analyzed and discussed.
As shown in Fig.
1, a 980 nm pump laser is used before
the wavelength division multiplexer. The output laser of
the DFB-FL goes through the isolator, wavelength divi-
sion de-multiplexer, and into the detector. The analog/
digital (A/D) card is used to sample the output voltage
signal of the detector and transmit the signal to the per-
sonal computer (PC). The collective digitized signal is
then processed using the Fourier transform to evaluate
Fig. 1. Intensity FL AE sensing scheme. ISO, isolator.
COL 14(12), 120602(2016) CHINESE OPTICS LETTERS December 10, 2016
1671-7694/2016/120602(4) 120602-1 © 2016 Chinese Optics Letters