Corporate
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Overview
SOFO VII MuST
Universal Reading Unit
for SOFO and
MuST (FBG)
Sensors
Daniele Inaudi
inaudi@smartec.ch
SMARTEC SA, Manno, Switzerland
www.smartec.ch
Roctest, St. Lambert, Canada
www.roctest.com
Web Seminar
o You should hear my voice through your PC
speaker / headset
o You can ask questions using the “Questions”
panel on the right of your screen. We will
answer:
• In the “Questions” Panel
• At the end of the presentation
• By email
o Later this week you will receive link to:
• Presentation in PowerPoint, PDF and with narration
• Datasheets
Contents
o Introduction
o SOFO Technology
o FBG Technology
o SOFO VII reading unit introduction
o Configurations
o Specifications
o Conclusion
Introduction
o Fiber Optic Sensors (FOS) for Structural Health
Monitoring (SHM) have moved from R&D to mainstream
applications
o Some technologies have emerged as dominant:
• SOFO: Long-gauge deformation sensors
• FBG’s: Point Strain and Temperature sensors
• Brillouin and Raman scattering: distributed Sensing
o Standards and interoperability are emerging, allowing
combination of FOS and traditional sensors in the same
projects
SOFO Sensors
o Advantages:
• Long-gauge: not sensitive to local
changes. Enables monitoring at the
scale of structural elements
• Built-in temperature compensation
• Very accurate: sub-microstrain
• Long-term stable
• Track record of more than 10’000
sensors installed over 15+ years
SOFO System
o Long-gauge fiber optic
deformation sensors
o Gauge length of 0.2m to 10m
o High resolution: 2µm
o Excellent long-term stability
o Insensitive to temperature, EM fields, corrosion,...
o Embeddable or surface installable in new and existing
structures
o Easy and rapid to install and measure
o Ideal for monitoring of large structures, especially
concrete, and geotechnical applicaitons
MuST Sensors
o Advantages:
• Variety of sensing parameters and
conditions
• Strain on metals, composites,
concrete…
• Temperature
• Tilt
• Accelleration
• Mulitplexing
• Accuracy and stability
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
MuST System
o Multiplexed Strain and
Temperature monitoring system
based on Fiber Bragg Gratings
o Up to 10 strain sensors and
25 temperature sensors on the same line
o Gauge length from 1 cm to 2 m
o Temperature measurement for strain and deformation
sensors
o Static and dynamic measurements possible
SOFO and MuST (FBG)
o SOFO and FBG: two leading fiber optic sensing
technologies for SHM
o SOFO offer superior performance and flexibility in
monitoring deformations of large structures. In
particular well adapted to measure deformations of
concrete, rock and soil.
o SOFO has lower sensor costs
o MuST (FBG) offer sensors for different parameters
o MuST (FBG) sensors can be multiplexed in-line
o In real-world applications it would be ideal to use
sensors based on both technologies in the same
project
Interoperability ?
o Is it possible to use SOFO sensors with MuST reading
unit and vice-versa?
Compatible
Compatible
Introducing SOFO VII MuST
o Is it possible to use SOFO sensors with MuST reading
unit and vice-versa? Now you can!
SOFO VII technology
o Sophisticated algorithms allow measurement of SOFO
sensors through spectral analysis.
-10
1520
2500
1520.5
1521
1521.5
1522
1522.5
1523
1523.5
1524
1524.5
1525
-11
2000
-12
-13
1500
-14
FFT
1000
-15
-16
500
-17
-18
0
-60000
-40000
-20000
0
20000
40000
60000
SOFO VII MuST Features
o Two formats:
• Portable (4 channels)
• Permanent installation (4 or 8 channels)
o Each channel can measure either:
•
•
•
•
1 SOFO sensor
Up to 5 SOFO sensors, using external 1x5 splitter
1 chain of FBG sensors (e.g. 7 deformation, 12 strain, 25 T)
Up to 4 chains of FBG sensors, using external 1x4 coupler
o Each Channel can be SW configured for SOFO or MuST
o Integrates field PC with SMARTEC software engine and
user interface
SOFO VII MuST Units
Permanent
monitoring
(4 or 8 channels)
Portable
(4 channels)
Configuration Example 1
o 4 SOFO Sensors
Configuration Example 2
o 2 SOFO sensors + 2 FBG chains
Configuration Example 3
o 5 SOFO sensors per channel using Splitter
Configuration Example 4
SOFO
o All together now 
1x5 splitter
MuST / FBG
Temperature
1x4 coupler
Splitter ≠Coupler
Splitter -> SOFO
Coupler -> MuST
Tilt
Accelleration
Strain
Interfacing with SOFO VII
o Integrated PC allows on-board SMARTEC’s SDB
software and advanced connectivity
o SDB, SDB View and SDB Pro now included in the SOFO
VII price (starting October 1st 2013)
o Ethernet interface, for remote access and user interface
o USB interface, e.g. for 4G modem or data download
o Touch screen on portable unit
SDB View software
Sensor list.
Tab view with colors coding
for pre-warning and warning.
Map view with colors coding
for pre-warning and warning.
Plot view with pre -warning
and warning thresholds.
SDB Pro Software
Create sensors
based on
complex
mathematical
functions
SOFO VII / MuST Universal Reading Unit
Performance
SOFO Sensors Measurement
MuST (FBG) Sensor Measurement
Measurement resolution
2 μm RMS
1 pm RMS
Linearity / Accuracy
<2‰
±2 pm
Sample rate
1 Sample/s (1Hz)
1 Sample/s (1Hz)
Measurement range
Max. 50 mm
100 nm (1500 to 1600 nm)
Sensors per channel
Max 5 SOFO Deformation sensors
Max 7 MuST (FBG) Deformation sensors
Up to 12 Strain FBG sensors
Up to 25 Temperature FBG sensors
Calibration
None, not required
NIST traceable wavelength reference
Optical Connectors
E-2000 PC (0°)
E-2000 AC (8°)
Dynamic range
>50 dB
>50 dB
Measurement time
< 2 s (incl. SDB writing) per channel
< 2 s (incl. SDB writing) per channel
Available channel count
4 or 8* channels total, software configurable between SOFO and MuST
SOFO VII / MuST Universal Reading Unit
SPECIFICATIONS – PERMANENT INSTALLATION
AC power supply
230 V 50 Hz / 110 V 60 Hz Auto detect
External connections
Ethernet connection, 4 or 8 optical ports, power supply, display and screen
Data logger capacity
Typical 5 years of data with measurements every 1h.
Dimensions
~ 500 mm x 500 mm x 210 mm
Weight
~ 25 kg
Operating temperature
10°C to + 40°C
- 40°C to + 40°C with heating option*
Humidity
90% non-condensed
SOFO VII / MuST Portable Reading Unit
SPECIFICATIONS - PORTABLE
AC power supply
230 V 50 Hz / 110 V 60 Hz Auto detect
DC power supply
18-20 VDC or internal battery
Nominal consumption
45 Watt (Peak 90W)
Communication
RJ45 Ethernet; USB
Control interface
12” touchscreen GUI; Ethernet TCP / IP; USB
External connections
Ethernet connection, 4 optical ports, power supply, display and external screen
Data logging format
SDB Database
Dimensions
~ 360 mm x 275 mm x 100 mm
Weight
~ 7,3 kg – Aluminum enclosure
Operating temperature
+10°C to 40°C
Relative humidity
<90%, non-condensed
Operating temperature
+10°C to + 40°C
Relative humidity
< 90% non-condensed
Conclusions
o New SOFO VII MuST reading unit can measure SOFO
and MuST (FBG) sensors.
o Mix-and-match to SOFO and MuST sensors as required
by each project.
o SOFO sensors can now be multiplexed with splitter.
o Portable and permanent units
o Integrates SDB software for data acquisition,
management and user interface (local or remote)
o Unique solution on the market, available immediately
o Competitive pricing, lower than previous generation
SOFO Reading units.