Apparatus, fiber optic sensor assembly and sensor housing assembly utilizing viscous material composition to mitigate signal attenuation

A sensor housing assembly, comprising:

• a sensor housing having an interface surface that engages with a surface of the structural member when the sensor housing is engaged with the structural member;
• at least one structural member interface body integral with the sensor housing, wherein the at least one structural member interface body includes a structural member engagement portion that is exposed at the interface surface of the sensor housing and an optical fiber engagement portion;
• and
• an optical fiber attached to the sensor housing, wherein the at least one structural member interface body has an operating condition signal generating portion of the optical fiber attached thereto to form an operating condition sensor, wherein the optical fiber is disposed within an inner jacket of a fiberoptic cable, wherein a viscous material composition is within a space between the inner jacket and the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber includes a light transmitting structure and a layer of polyimide material covering the light transmitting structure, wherein the layer of polyimide material is applied directly onto the light transmitting structure, and wherein the at least one structural member interface body has the layer of polyimide material at the operating condition signal generating portion bonded directly thereto.

A fiber optic sensor assembly, comprising:

• a structural member interface body having a structural member engagement portion and an optical fiber engagement portion;
• and
• an optical fiber having an operating condition signal generating portion thereof attached the structural member interface body to form an operating condition sensor, wherein the optical fiber is disposed within an inner jacket of a fiberoptic cable and wherein a viscous material composition is within a space between a the inner jacket and the optical fiber;
• wherein the structural member interface body has spaced apart opposing surfaces;
• wherein a first one of the spaced apart opposing surfaces is the structural member engagement portion;
• wherein a second one of the spaced apart opposing surfaces is the optical fiber engagement portion;
• wherein the first and second opposing sides extend substantially parallel to each other;
• wherein the optical fiber includes a light transmitting structure and a layer of polyimide material covering the light transmitting structure;
• wherein the layer of polyimide material is applied directly onto the light transmitting structure;
• and
• wherein each one of the structural member interface bodies has the layer of polyimide material at the operating condition signal generating portion bonded directly thereto.