Directional Force Measurement Using Specialized Single-Mode Polarization-Maintaining Fibers

Two different types of specialist single-mode polarization-maintaining side-hole(s) fibers have been specifically chosen in this paper for the direct measurement of transverse force, and their performance characteristics have been recorded and cross compared. To achieve this, side-hole fibers have been used which were investigated both theoretically and experimentally for their respective pressure sensitivities as a function of rotation angles and magnitudes of the applied external force. The experimental results obtained have shown good agreement with theoretical predictions for situations where an external force applied was within a certain range. It was thus concluded that the pressure measurement sensitivities of these specialist fibers are strongly dependent upon the direction of the force applied (with reference to the fast or slow axis of the fibers). Therefore, devices based on these fibers can be used effectively as sensors for the measurement of pressure, force, and mass of an object through an appropriate device configuration, enabling measurements over a wide range and in real time.