Test & measurement
NEW FIBRE OPTIC SENSOR CAPTURES HIGH-SPEED STRAIN MEASUREMENT
The new 2071A FSI optical strain sensor array from Kistler – FSI stands for Fibre Segment Interferometry – is a robust, non-invasive and easy-to-install fibre optic sensing solution for demanding applications and harsh test environments. It requires minimal space, is extremely lightweight and immune to electromechanical interference, and can be extensively customised.
M
easurements become especially challenging when strain changes are both very small and highly dynamic. In vibration analysis,
impact testing and acoustic emission monitoring, the measurement system must capture fast events without adding mass or stiffness that could influence the test structure. This combination of measurement speed, precision and minimal sensor influence is essential in applications ranging from shock tube and passive safety testing to battery development and structural health monitoring.
FIBRE OPTIC SENSING SYSTEM FOR HIGHLY DYNAMIC MEASUREMENTS For these applications, Kistler has recently launched a new fibre optic sensing solution, the 2071A FSI strain sensor array. It is based on Fibre Segment Interferometry (FSI), a measurement technology that works by detecting phase shifts in reflected light in each sensor segment. The new optical strain sensor can be customised with up to 22 segments per sensor and segment lengths between 8 and 200 mm.
“With the 2071A, we provide our customers with a compact and flexible fibre optic sensing solution that delivers both high precision and outstanding dynamic performance,” says Teresa Mueller, business development manager at Kistler. “Thanks to a resolution down to 20 n, a dynamic range of up to 10,000 µ and sampling rates up to 410 kHz, the system combines detailed spatial strain data with high measurement speed.”
NON-INVASIVE OPTICAL STRAIN SENSOR, IMMUNE TO ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE With a sensing section diameter of only 155 µm, the 2071A requires minimal installation space and can be bonded directly to the test structure without influencing its behaviour. The fibre optic sensing system is dielectric, extremely lightweight and intrinsically immune to electromagnetic interference, making it ideally suited to applications where conventional sensors are difficult to use or where space and weight are critical factors.
The optical strain sensor is designed for use across a wide temperature range, from –55 °C to 300 °C, enabling deployment in harsh environmental conditions. The measurement chain is completed by the 2549A FSI Interrogator, a data acquisition system that includes
Kistler Cockpit software visualisation of an acoustic emission event measured with the fibre segment interferometry (FSI) strain sensor 2071A. The left plot shows the segment-based strain response over time, while the right plots display the corresponding frequency spectrum.
the Kistler Cockpit software. Overall, this fibre optic sensing solution supports sampling rates of up to 410 kHz, allowing even very fast transient strain events to be captured with high fidelity.
VARIOUS FSI MEASUREMENT SOLUTIONS AVAILABLE FROM KISTLER Fibre optic sensing is breaking new ground in measurement technology, enabling applications that were previously ineffective or even impossible. Together with the 2069A temperature sensor and the 2073A shape sensor, the new 2071A strain sensor is part of Kistler’s innovative FSI portfolio. All sensors are supported by a single data acquisition system: the 2549A FSI Interrogator.
Kistler
www.kistler.com
Ultra-thin fibere segment interferometry (FSI) strain sensor 2071A with 155 µm diameter, shown with its optical connector and a match for scale. The compact sensor design enables integration into tight spaces and lightweight structures.
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The measuring chain of the new fibre optic sensing solution from Kistler is completed with the 2549A
FSI Interrogator, which serves as light source, wave detector and data acquisition system (DAQ).
October 2026 Instrumentation Monthly
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