Characterization of a high birefringence fibre Bragg grating sensor subjected to non-homogeneous transverse strain fields

Several theoretical and experimental studies have been carried out in recent years to characterize the spectral response of an optical fibre Bragg grating (FBG) subjected to non-homogeneous axial strain fields. However, few works have considered the evolution of the spectrum when a FBG fabricated in a high birefringence fibre is subjected to non-homogeneous transverse loading. In this paper, a physical model is described and a numerical simulation based on the piecewise-uniform approach is also used to calculate the response of a FBG fabricated in a high birefringence fibre under some typical non-homogeneous transverse strain fields. Finally, simulated results are analysed and compared with a FBG fabricated in a conventional monomode fibre.