Performance of a multifiber polarimetric strain sensor

An experimental study of the performance of a multi-fiber polarimetric sensor in real time structural health monitoring is carried out. The sensor is in the form of a two-fiber assembly composed of a polarization maintaining (PM) lead-in fiber spliced to a high-birefringent (Hi-Bi) fiber. Experiments are conducted on composite structure under static loading conditions. The results are compared with individual fiber performances. The polarization behavior of the assembly is analyzed theoretically using Stokes matrix method for the monochromatic case.