Two types of fiber-optic sensors, EFPI(extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer) and FBG(fiber Bragg grating), have been investigated for measurement of thermal strain and temperature. The EFPI sensor is only for measurement of thermal strain and the FBG sensor is for simultaneous measurement of thermal strain and temperature. FBG temperature sensor was developed to measure strain-independent temperature. This sensor configuration consists of a single-fiber Bragg grating and capillary tube which makes it isolated from external strain. This sensor can then be used to compensate for the temperature cross sensitivity of a FBG strain sensor. These sensors are demonstrated by embedding them into a graphite/epoxy composite plate and by attaching them on aluminum rod and unsymmetric graphite/epoxy composite plate. All the tests were conducted in a thermal chamber with the temperature range 20-100℃. Results of strain measurements by fiber-optic sensors are compared with that from conventional resistive foil gauge attached on the surface.
