A force measurement method using the optical fibre beam

AbstractExperimental setup for force sensing using an optical fibre was developed. The plastic optical fibre (POF) and stainless spring sheet, which is a material for beam, were used to evaluate the performance of the force sensor during macro-bending. The sensor consists of a POF bonded on the surface of a flexible metal beam in the form of a cantilever configuration. The POF assembled beam was placed on the table with the side with opened ends of cable (connected to the source and the detector) fixed to supports while the detecting end of the beam is to hang with various masses for the equivalent to the applied downward forces. Macro-bending of the detecting beam as the result of applying different forces cause differences in power loss in the POF and therefore in the output optical power. The relation between applied force and output optical power was revealed. This study highlights the potential use of POF sensors for various force sensing applications