Abstract
Method for viscosity measurement has not changed significantly over the past several decades. Most common techniques either require sample to be taken from the material to be measured or special installation of a side stream to be set up to monitor the viscosity. Here we present a compact fiber optic based viscometer based on damping measurement stem from interaction between fluid and the optical sensor. The fluid viscosity measurement is deduced from the fluid's frictional damping on the surface of the immersed vibrating fiber optic probe. This frictional damping, which becomes the dominant factor in the fluid damping under a small fiber's vibration, is a function of viscosity. Utilizing an intrinsic Polarimetric technique, the fiber's vibration profile can be measured and thus damping characteristic due to viscosity on the probe can be derived. The uniqueness of the sensor is its compact size and potential application in an industrial environment without any additional modification to the existing sensor or the industrial setting. The sensor is also potentially can be made portable so that operators can take with them to the test site. Here theoretical and preliminary results will be presented.