Comparing Lensed and Un-Lensed Optical Spot Probes for Blade Tip Timing Measurements
Detection of airfoil time-of-arrival with optical probes has been evolving since the 1980s. Time of arrival data are used to infer airfoil stresses caused by vibration through a sequence of manipulations. The data conversion begins by converting arrival time to blade position, so blade deflection can be determined from the expected non-vibrating position. Various methods are used in the industry to convert deflection data to frequency, amplitude, and stress, which is beyond the scope of this paper. Regardless of the analytical approach used, producing accurate stress information relies on the precise detection and measurement of time-of-arrival, which equates to blade position. Optical spot probes are commonly employed for blade tip sensing. Two dominant types of fiber optic probes are used in industry today; 1) un-lensed probes having their numerical aperture (NA) defined by the optical fiber and 2) lensed probes, utilizing an imaging lens to control numerical aperture and spot size. The lens adds cost and complexity to the probe but allows the probe to be installed farther away from the blade tip while keeping the sensing area small. The low-cost un-lensed probes must be installed close to the blade tip since the optical beam diverges at the angle defined by the NA of the fiber. These probes are considered interchangeable, with little regard to the inherent geometric optical differences of the beam transmission into the space where the blade travels. This paper presents a laboratory study comparing the performance characteristics between lensed and un-lensed spot probes. The study evaluates signal amplitude and rise time and arrival errors due to optical interaction with varying tip radii geometry. The study reports rise time as return signal strength as a function of circumferential location and sensing gap. Arrival errors are reported as circumferential location errors compared to a sharp reference edge as a function of the blade-to-sensor gap. The work is presented in terms of arrival location, producing information that is independent of rotation speed and vibratory mode.