Polymer-Based Acousto-Optic Ultrasonic Sensor for Non-Destructive Evaluation of Dielectric Insulation

Open Access

Year : 2026 | Volume : 14 | Issue : 01 | Page : 11 24
    By

    Krishanlal Adhikari,

  • Chiranjib Koley,

  • Nirmal Kumar Roy,

  1. Ph.D. Research Scholar, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India
  2. Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India
  3. Professor (HAG), Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, West Bengal, India

Abstract

A dual-polymer fiber-optic sensor for monitoring partial discharge (PD) activity in high-voltage polymeric insulation is presented in this work for non-destructive evaluation and dielectric testing applications. Dielectric weakness within polymeric insulation leads to partial discharge activity, generating ultrasonic acoustic waves that propagate through the medium. The developed sensing assembly comprises a conical polymer-based horn that gathers and concentrates the ultrasonic acoustic emission energy generated by dielectric weakness, and a single-mode fiber (SMF)–polymer–SMF interferometric cavity that converts the resulting stress into optical signal modulation. Because the horn is fabricated from a dielectric polymer, the acoustic front end can be positioned near energized high-voltage terminals without disturbing local electric field conditions, making it suitable for dielectric condition monitoring of polymeric insulators. When the concentrated acoustic pressure from the polymeric horn is applied to a compliant polymer gap between two single-mode fibers, the cavity’s optical path length is modulated through thickness deformation and photoelastic index variation, producing an interference response that is directly interrogated by a photodiode. Different promising polymer combinations are evaluated through optimized modeling of the polymeric horn and cavity architecture, from which the epoxy horn–PDMS cavity configuration is identified as the most suitable. The performance of the developed sensor is experimentally investigated and validated against the standard electrical detection method, with testing carried out on polymeric silicone rubber samples and insulators under controlled partial discharge conditions as a proof-of-concept demonstration. An average sensitivity of –75.7 dB re 1 V/µbar and a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 24.6 dB are achieved, confirming that optical transduction within the polymer cavity and mechanical amplification provided by the polymer horn enable effective detection of low-level PD-induced ultrasonic signatures. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of polymer-based fiber-optic acoustic sensors for long-term condition monitoring of polymeric insulators in high-voltage environments.

Keywords: Dielectric weakness, non-destructive evaluation, partial discharge, polymer-based sensors, polymeric insulator, proof-of-concept development, ultrasonic, and acoustic emission.

[This article belongs to Journal of Polymer & Composites ]

How to cite this article:
Krishanlal Adhikari, Chiranjib Koley, Nirmal Kumar Roy. Polymer-Based Acousto-Optic Ultrasonic Sensor for Non-Destructive Evaluation of Dielectric Insulation. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):11-24.
How to cite this URL:
Krishanlal Adhikari, Chiranjib Koley, Nirmal Kumar Roy. Polymer-Based Acousto-Optic Ultrasonic Sensor for Non-Destructive Evaluation of Dielectric Insulation. Journal of Polymer & Composites. 2026; 14(01):11-24. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2026/view=236301


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Regular Issue Open Access Original Research
Volume 14
Issue 01
Received 20/12/2025
Accepted 29/12/2025
Published 25/01/2026
Publication Time 36 Days
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