Fiber optic interferometer as a sensor for surface conditions measurement

Abstract

Interferometric methods are characterized by high measurement accuracy, and the use of fiber optics allows to be used in hard-to-reach areas. Fiber optic interferometry offers a promising capability to operate in real-time monitoring of metal surface in interacting components. This study uses a fiber optic interferometer as an instrument to estimate the surface conditions and displacement. The proposed solution allows evaluating the distance of the fiber optic end from the material surface to determine the distance and surface condition. Measurements were made in the range of 10-500 μm with a step of 10 μm. Stainless steel samples after sliding friction test were measured. The proposed sensor makes it possible to evaluate the degrees of abrasion of the various surfaces of the interacting components in machines.