Modified transfer matrix method model for a fiber Bragg grating strain sensor in polarization maintaining single mode optical fiber

Fiber-Bragg Gratings (FBG) for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) have been studied extensively as they offer electrically passive operation, EMI immunity, high sensitivity, and multiple multiplexing schemes, as compared to conventional electricity based strain sensors. FBG sensors written in Polarization Maintaining (PM) optical fiber offer an additional dimension of strain measurement simplifying sensor implementation within a structure. This simplification however, adds complexity to the detection of the sensor’s optical response to its corresponding applied strain. We propose a modified Transfer Matrix Method model to simulate a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) in a polarization maintaining optical fiber. We study the effects of the reflected Bragg wavelength to the changes in shape of the optical fiber core waveguide and compare the results to the existing literature.