title: Transverse load and orientation measurement with multicore fiber Bragg gratings.
abstract: We demonstrate the sensitivity of Bragg gratings in a multicore fiber to transverse load. The Bragg peaks are split because of stress-induced birefringence, the magnitude of which depends upon the load and grating position relative to the load axis. Experiments show that a set of gratings in a four-core fiber can measure a load axis angle to +/- 5 degrees and a load magnitude to +/- 15 N m(-1) up to 2500 N m(-1). We consider alternative designs of multicore fiber for optimal load sensing and compare experimental and modeled data.
authors.affiliation: Applied Optics and Photonics Group, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva-López
authors.forename: William N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: MacPherson
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Julian D C
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bennion