EMBEDDED FIBER OPTIC CRACK SENSOR FOR REINFORCED CONCRETE STRUCTURES

A distributed fiber optic sensor is developed for embedment in concrete structures. The sensor principles are simple, and, therefore, practical for crack detection and deformation measurement in civil structural applications. The distributed sensor developed in the study operates based on the intensity measurements of optical power. The sensor consists of a number of individual segments on one line, with gage lengths designed according to the structural and materials requirements. An optical time domain reflectometer is employed for interrogation of the sensor signal. This study is aimed at demonstrating the applicability of this sensor in monitoring performance of concrete structures. Crack detection methodologies were established through experiments with plain concrete beams. Structural monitoring capability of the sensor was evaluated through experiments with reinforced concrete beams. Experiments involved both monotonic and fatigue loading of the beams. The sensor was embedded in the tension zone of the beams to facilitate comparison of sensor response with visual observations. Strain gages and Bragg grating fiber optic sensors were employed for monitoring reinforcing bar strains. Experimental results are presented and discussed in terms of the crack detection capability, resolution, and practicality of the sensor in structural applications.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/13846957
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Financial support was provided by the National Science Foundation under grant number CMS-9900338.
• Corporate Authors:

  American Concrete Institute (ACI)

  38800 Country Club Drive
  Farmington Hills, MI  United States  48331
• Authors:
  • Gu, X
  • Chen, Z
  • Ansari, Farhad
• Publication Date: 2000-5

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: p. 468-476
• Serial:
  • ACI Structural Journal
  • Volume: 97
  • Issue Number: 3
  • Publisher: American Concrete Institute (ACI)
  • ISSN: 0889-3241
  • Serial URL: http://www.concrete.org/PUBS/JOURNALS/SJHOME.ASP

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Beams; Civil engineering; Concrete; Cracking; Deformation; Embedment (Building); Experiments; Fatigue (Mechanics); Fiber optics; Measurement; Monitoring; Reinforced concrete; Reinforced concrete bridges; Reinforcing bars; Sensors; Strain gages
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Design; Highways; I24: Design of Bridges and Retaining Walls;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00793984
• Record Type: Publication
• Contract Numbers: NSC 88-2211-E-011-011, OGP0194454, CMS-9900338
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 14 2000 12:00AM