Abstract: An optical sensor grating in a fiber-optic experiences a measurable parameter, such as strain, pressure and/or temperature. A passive nonuniform optical grating receives a light signal reflected by the optical sensor grating and spread out by a lens. A photodiode array behind the passive nonuniform optical grating senses a light intensity distribution of the reflected light signal. A microprocessor employs a simple peak detection algorithm to detect a maximum or minimum intensity of the reflected light signal at the photodiode array, and correlates the location of the maximum or minimum intensity to the measurable parameter experienced by the optical sensor grating.
Abstract: A random vibration generator includes a hollow tabletop for supporting equipment to be subjected to vibration, and a sinusoidal reaction-type vibration machine connected to the tabletop to produce a sinusoidal vibration of adjustable frequency and amplitude. The hollow tabletop is horizontally divided into four sections, each containing a number of projectiles such as heavy balls which roll and bounce about within the compartments in the tabletop, impacting with the floor and ceiling of the compartment and with each other in a random fashion to produce random shocks over a wide band of frequency and amplitude, and subject the equipment to every possible vibration failure mode that might occur in nature.