CAFCA — FBG sensors on multi-core fibers
Product description
Bi-national collaborative project (2021 – 2024)
Current Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors and interrogators cannot distinguish between temperature and stress measurements. The CAFCA project addresses this limitation by developing a novel embedded optical monitoring system for the aeronautics and naval industry.
This innovative system employs multi-core fibers instead of traditional single-core fibers. By photo-inscribing FBGs onto fibers with at least two cores – differing in nature or composition- it becomes possible to create two sensors at each point, each responding differently to temperature and external constraints. This advancement allows for the integration of FBG sensors into smart composites, makes them ideal for embedded applications in various fields such as naval vessels, aircraft, launchers, satellites and drones.
FBG SENSORS ON MULTI-CORE FIBERS
Photonics Bretagne is at the forefront of developing multi-core fibers with different doping in each core. This innovation allows for the differentiation of various parameters, such as elongation and temperature. FBG inscription can be achieve through two methods. The first method (1) involves inscribing FBGs directly during the fiber manufacturing process on all cores at Photonics Bretagne, resulting in FBGs that operate at the same wavelength in each core. The second method (2) involves inscribing FBGs with IDIL team manually. This second method allows FBGs to operate at different wavelengths.
Multitel and IDIL are developing new interrogation systems compatible with multi-core fibers. Multitel is developing a temporal interrogator, designed for Bragg Gratings operating at the same wavelength. In contrast, IDIL is developing a Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) auto-calibrated interrogator, which allows Bragg Gratings to operate at different wavelengths.
INTEGRATION INTO SMART COMPOSITES
These new sensors are particularly beneficial for monitoring new composites materials, such as carbon, metallic or glass-based composites. The testing phase is managed by Pixel, specializing in aeronautics and defense, and JD’C, focusing on naval applications. The end users of these advanced FBG sensors include Sonaca, Exail and Thales Alenia Space, who will integrate these technologies into their respective fields to enhance the performance and reliability of their composite materials.
These new sensors are particularly beneficial for monitoring new composites materials, such as carbon, metallic or glass-based composites. The testing phase is managed by Pixel, specializing in aeronautics and defense, and JD’C, focusing on naval applications. The end users of these advanced FBG sensors include Sonaca, Exail and Thales Alenia Space, who will integrate these technologies into their respective fields to enhance the performance and reliability of their composite materials.
PARTNERS
- Photonics Bretagne
- IDIL
- Pixel sur Mer
- JD’C Innovation
- Multitel
- Open engineering
- Skywin
- Wallonie recherche SPW
- Région Bretagne
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