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We report on the use of a multi-core fibre (MCF) comprising strongly-coupled cores for accurate strain sensing. Our MCF is designed to mode match a standard single mode optical fibre. This allows us to fabricate simple MCF interferometers whose interrogation is carried out with light sources, detectors and fibre components readily available from the optical communications tool box. Our MCF interferometers were used for sensing strain. The sensor calibration was carried out in a high-fidelity aerospace test laboratory. In addition, a packaged MCF interferometer was transferred into field trials to validate its performance under deployment conditions, specifically the sensors were installed in a historical iron bridge. Our results suggest that the MCF strain sensors here proposed are likely to reach the readiness level to compete with other mature sensor technologies, hence to find commercial application. An important advantage of our MCF interferometers is their capability to operate at very high temperatures.

Abstract-The present paper reports the use of a plastic optical fiber-based sensor for elongation measurements in an aircraft flap subjected to different types of flexural loading conditions. The sensor, bonded to the surface of the aircraft structure, relies on measuring the phase shift that occurs between two sinusoidally modulated light signals when the aircraft structure is bent. The light signals are guided through two optical fibers, one of them fixed to the top surface of the flap, and the other one to the bottom surface. The sensor offers good signal stability and repeatability and represents a cost-effective alternative to other more sophisticated health-monitoring systems currently used.

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