IFOS proposes an innovative Brillouin sensing system – B*Sense™ – for enhanced, distributed strain and temperature measurements in harsh environments. Brillouin sensing provides both temperature and strain measurement along the entire length of fiber, allowing the entire fiber to act as a sensor. B*Sense™ will enable identification of defects, such as fatigue cracking or excessive loading, and temperature in structures. Project goals include designing a high-resolution (few cm) miniaturized interrogator based on photonic integrated circuits (PIC), fabricating and demonstrating a test platform, and developing signal processing algorithms. B*Sense™ will enable the effective real-time, in situ strain and temperature profiling of rocket propulsion structures during ground testing.
The innovation will meet NASA’s requirements for improved measurement and analysis techniques for acquisition of real-time data used to determine rocket propulsion system performance during ground testing. The technology can also be used to provide test conductors high-resolution information to safely expand the flight test envelopes of aerospace vehicles and components.
Commercial aviation, the oil and gas industry, and land and marine vehicles will benefit significantly from this technology. The system can also be employed for perimeter monitoring and intrusion detection of large facilities.