Sidney Frans Goossens

Sidney Frans Goossens is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Applied Physics and Photonics, Faculty of Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Belgium. His work centers on advanced optical fiber sensing technologies for industrial diagnostics and structural health monitoring, with emphasis on harsh-environment applications.

His research portfolio demonstrates deep expertise in Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensor systems, particularly for quasi-distributed strain and temperature measurements. Key application domains include rotating machinery diagnostics in electric motors, leakage monitoring in bolted flange connections and spiral wound gaskets, and damage detection in structural components. His methodological approach integrates physical modeling with sensor network deployment for predictive maintenance solutions.

Recent publications (2025) reveal a concentrated research trajectory toward industrializing fiber-optic sensing for mechanical systems, with strong emphasis on temperature/strain-based diagnostics in rotating equipment and sealing technologies. This work bridges optical engineering and mechanical systems through collaborations with aerospace and industrial partners.

Scientific recognition includes:

• Third Prize at ie-prizes (ie-net) for Master Thesis in Civil Engineering (2015)

He leads the SBO Project FIBERMECH (2022-2027) on fiber optics for load analysis in mechatronic systems and has supervised 2 students. His research leverages the Brussels Photonics infrastructure for sensor development and validation in aerospace-relevant demonstrators.

Current activities focus on translating FBG sensor networks into practical solutions for electric motor thermal management and sealing integrity monitoring, with strong industry collaboration through VUB's engineering ecosystem.