Acoustic-wave-mode separation using a distributed Bragg grating sensor

This paper reports on the measurement and modal decomposition of structural plate waves using a single optical fibre sensor comprising an array of uniformly distributed Bragg gratings. Following a brief description of the design and fabrication of the sensor, numerical and experimental work is shown to demonstrate the fidelity of dynamic strain measurements furnished by the sensor at frequencies in excess of 200 kHz. The capacity of the sensor to provide a spatially resolved acoustic measurement represents an important advancement over conventional piezoelectric sensors as it allows for the decomposition of an elastic wave field into its constituent modes. This provides a potentially powerful diagnostic framework for structural health monitoring using guided waves. Experimental work on a metallic plate is presented to demonstrate the use of wave-mode conversion as a basis for the detection of structural damage, and its insensitivity to environmental effects.