Distributed optical fiber pressure sensors

Abstract

The measurement of pressure by using distributed optical fiber sensors has represented a challenge for many years. While single-point optical fiber pressure sensors have reached a solid level of technology maturity, showing to be very good candidates in replacing conventional electrical sensors due to their numerous advantages, distributed sensors are still a matter of an intense research activity aimed at determining the most proper and robust pressure-sensitivity enhancement mechanism. This paper reviews early and recent works on distributed pressure sensors, classifying the sensors according to the sensing mechanism. For each type of mechanism, the issues and potentials are analyzed and discussed.The measurement of pressure by using distributed optical fiber sensors has represented a challenge for many years. While single-point optical fiber pressure sensors have reached a solid level of technology maturity, showing to be very good candidates in replacing conventional electrical sensors due to their numerous advantages, distributed sensors are still a matter of an intense research activity aimed at determining the most proper and robust pressure-sensitivity enhancement mechanism. This paper reviews early and recent works on distributed pressure sensors, classifying the sensors according to the sensing mechanism. For each type of mechanism, the issues and potentials are analyzed and discussed.