Opto-mechanical modeling and experimental implementation of an FBG-based piezoelectric bimorph actuator for high voltage sensing applications

Abstract

This paper proposes a highly simplified optical voltage sensor by using a piezoelectric bimorph and a Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) that can be used for high voltage applications with a relatively good accuracy and stability. In this work the theoretical framework for the whole opto-mechanical operation of the optical sensor is detailed and compared to experimental results. In the analysis, a correction term to the electric field is derived to account for the linear strain distribution across the piezoelectric layer improving the designing equations and giving more criteria for future developments. Finally, some experimental results from a laboratory scale optical-based high voltage sensing setup are discussed, and shown to be in excellent agreement with theoretical expected behavior for different voltage magnitudes.