Damage detection system with sub-microsecond resolution

Fiber optic grating sensors have been used to measure multi-dimensional strain, pressure, temperature, corrosion and moisture. This paper presents a method of using fiber grating sensors to measure the position and velocity of a very fast event associated with a blast wave. A chirped fiber grating of 50 mm length is placed in a highly energetic material. The action of the shock wave is to destroy the fiber grating as it propagates along it. By using a spectral filter such as a chirped fiber grating in combination with high speed detectors the position and velocity of the shock wave may be determined. A layout of a system used to experimentally verify this technique is described and results presented for two different highly energetic materials.