Curvature measurement plays an important role in many fields. Aiming to overcome shortcomings of the existing optical fiber curvature sensors, such as complicated structure and difficulty in eliminating temperature noise, we proposed and demonstrated a simple optical fiber curvature sensor based on surface plasmon resonance. By etching cladding of the step-index multimode fiber and plating gold film on the bare core, the typical Kretschmann configuration is implemented on fiber, which is used as the bending-sensitive region. With increases in the curvature of the optical fiber, the resonance wavelength of the SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) dip linear red-shifts while the transmittance decreases linearly. In the curvature range between 0 and 9.17 m-1, the wavelength sensitivity reached 1.50 nm/m-1 and the intensity sensitivity reached -3.66%/m-1. In addition, with increases in the ambient temperature, the resonance wavelength of the SPR dips linearly blueshifts while the transmittance increases linearly. In the temperature range between 20 and 60 °C, the wavelength sensitivity is -0.255 nm/°C and the intensity sensitivity is 0.099%/°C. The sensing matrix is built up by combining the aforementioned four sensitivities. By means of the dual modulation method, the cross-interference caused by temperature change is eliminated. Additionally, simultaneous measurement of curvature and temperature is realized.
Keywords: curvature measurement; dual-modulation method; fiber optics sensors; surface plasmon resonance; temperature compensation.