Fibre Optic Sensors for Shock Physics Measurements

Due to the inherently destructive and rapid release of energy from highly explosive materials, diagnostic measurements of the process are difficult and often of modest accuracy. Current methods are usually electrical in nature and typically unchanged over many decades. Recent advances in fibre optic methods present new tools by which measurements may be made and innovation in this area has the potential to increase the fidelity of measurements which will benefit our understanding and modelling of most areas of detonation physics and the underlying processes in the reactive growth in shock to detonation scenarios. This project will look at novel techniques exploiting fibre Bragg grating (FBG) technology to determine physical parameters. The project will focus on developing FBGs in polymer optical fibre for use in detonation experiments which is something that has not previously been demonstrated. This follows on from work conducted at a number of institutions, including the University of Southampton, which developed Bragg gratings in silica glass fibres for this purpose. Developing FBGs in polymer optical fibre would extend the application to inert shock physics, shock to detonation experiments and other scenarios whereby the observed velocity would be lower than detonation speeds.