Plastic Optical Fibre Sensors for Environmental Monitoring: Biofouling and Strain Applications

摘要: Two long-term environmental monitoring plastic optical fibre (POF) sensors are described, using light intensity modulation. An evanescent field biofouling sensor was developed and characterised with sensitivity �0.007 refractive index units or 0.5% below n = 1.4 �0.002 0.15% above 1.4. A tapered POF tested as a strain sensor, which demonstrated significant proportion of excellent linearity exhibited good agreement measured values. The appeared to be well-behaved in that it showed little data scatter able monitor strains up 1.4% without failure. These two applications clearly demonstrate the potential have for cheap, on-line continuous monitoring.