Optical fiber system having helical core structure for detecting forces during a collision test

A system for detecting forces during a collision test where the system undergoes a sudden impact causing deformation in a short time span, said system comprising:

• a plurality of body parts forming an anthropomorphic test device and simulating at least a part of a human body;
• at least one first optical fiber supported by at least one of said body parts, said first optical fiber extending between a first end and a second end along a fiber axis, said first optical fiber comprising a plurality of cores extending between said first and said second ends, each of said cores having a plurality of grating sensors inscribed integrally therein with said sensors spaced along a length between said first and said second ends;
• a plurality of components forming a part of at least one of a vehicle and/or a testing stand;
• at least one second optical fiber supported by at least one of said components, said second optical fiber extending between a first end and a second end along a fiber axis, said second optical fiber comprising a plurality of cores extending between said first and said second ends and each of said cores having a plurality of grating sensors inscribed integrally therein with said sensors spaced along a length between said first and said second ends;
• an emitter in communication with said first and said second optical fibers for emitting a light having a predetermined band of wavelengths through said plurality of cores of said first and second optical fibers that is reflected by said sensors;
• and
• an interrogator in communication with said first and said second optical fibers for detecting said reflected light from said plurality of grating sensors such that changes to the reflected light indicate a strain on said optical fibers;
• wherein said plurality of cores of at least one of said first and said second optical fibers are further defined as having at least one location along said respective length where said plurality of cores are helically wound about each other along said fiber axis;
• and
• wherein deformation of either of said body part and said component causes strain on said first or said second optical fiber that stretches and compresses said grating sensors thereby changing the reflection of the light from each of said plurality of cores that is used to measure torsion thereof.

An anthropomorphic test device that undergoes a sudden impact causing deformation in a short time span, said anthropomorphic test device comprising:

• at least one of body part simulating at least a part of a human body that may undergo deformation when subjected to the sudden impact;
• at least one optical fiber supported by and in contact with said at least one body part with said optical fiber extending between a first end and a second end along a fiber axis;
• and
• said optical fiber having a plurality of cores extending between said first and said second ends and each of said cores having a plurality of grating sensors inscribed integrally therewith along a length therein with said sensors spaced along a length between said first and said second ends;
• wherein said plurality of cores are further defined as having at least one location along said respective length where said plurality of cores are helically wound about each other along said fiber axis;
• and
• wherein deformation of said body part causes strain on said optical fiber that stretches and compresses said grating sensors thereby changing the reflection of the light from each of said plurality of cores that is used to measure torsion of said body parts.