Crack Detecting and Localizing Using Distributed Optical Fiber Sensing

One Brillouin scattering-based distributed optical fiber sensor system for monitoring cracks of a reinforced concrete column is presented. The column specimen cracked, yielded, and crashed, as the cyclic loading on the column increased, and the entire process was monitored by the sensor system. A fine crack with an initial width of 0.02mm on the column due to the loading was successfully detected, not only its initiation, but also its accurate location. The optical fiber acts as the sensing element effectively and reliably, even when the crack width was increased 10mm The cracks distributed over the column were successfully detected, and their identified locations agreed with visual inspection results.