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Optical Fiber Sensors Used for Civil Engineering

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Prof. Dr. Michael Sakellariou

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Laboratory of Structural Mechanics and Engineering Structures, School of Rural, Surveying and Geoinformatics Engineering, National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Zografos, 15780 Athens, Greece
Interests: geotechnical engineering and geomechanics; numerical and experimental stress analysis; structural health monitoring; stress analysis of tunnels; landslide hazards analysis in GIS environment
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Dear Colleagues,

Optical fiber sensors (OFs) are a relatively new technology used to measure strain, temperature, and accelerations in situ to monitor the structural performance of civil engineering structures in aerospace and mechanical engineering industries, etc. This technology acts as an extension of strain gauges and other methods used to monitor structures in all scales from scaled-down physical models to real structures. This development is relevant to the need for structural health monitoring (SHM), performance-based design, and improved and versatile methods in experimental mechanics. In this Special Issue, papers reporting on the advanced use of OFS in research and industry are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Michael Sakellariou
Guest Editor

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17 pages, 10452 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Experimental Study of Sinkhole Propagation Induced by a Leaking Pipe Using Fibre Bragg Grating Sensors

by Josué Yumba, Maria Ferentinou and Michael Grobler

Sensors 2024, 24(19), 6215; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24196215 - 25 Sep 2024

Viewed by 661

Abstract

Sinkhole formation caused by leaking pipes in karst soluble rocks is a significant concern, leading to infrastructure damage and safety risks. In this paper, an experiment was conducted to investigate sinkhole formation in dense sand induced by a leaking pipe. Fibre Bragg grating (FBG) sensors were used to record the strain. A balloon was gradually deflated within a bed of wet silica sand to create an underground cavity. Eighteen FBG sensors, with a wavelength range between 1550 nm and 1560 nm, were embedded horizontally and vertically in the physical model at different levels to monitor deformation at various locations. A leaking pipe was installed to induce the collapse of the formed arch above the cavity. The strain measurements suggested the following four phases in the sinkhole formation process: (1) cavity formation, (2) progressive weathering and erosion, (3) catastrophic collapse, and (4) subsequent equilibrium conditions. The results showed differences in the strain signatures and distributions between the horizontal and vertical measurements. During the critical phase of the sinkhole collapse, the horizontal measurements primarily showed tension, while the vertical measurements indicated compression. This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of FBGs as advanced monitoring tools for sinkhole precursor identification. The study also suggests using FBGs in geotechnical monitoring applications to improve the understanding and mitigation of sinkholes and related geohazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Fiber Sensors Used for Civil Engineering)

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14 pages, 4637 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fluorescent Probe-Based Fiber Optic Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring of Chloride Ions in Coastal Concrete Structures

by Zhen Lin, Quanfeng Ouyang, Chuanrui Guo and Yiqing Ni

Sensors 2024, 24(12), 3700; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24123700 - 7 Jun 2024

Viewed by 694

Abstract

Coastal concrete structures, such as cross-sea bridges and tunnels, are susceptible to the penetration of chloride ions, which can lead to the deterioration of the passive film on the rebar surface, consequently accelerating the corrosion process. Conventional methods for monitoring chloride ions typically require in situ drilling for sample collection, thereby compromising efficiency and accuracy. Additionally, real-time monitoring and early warning cannot be achieved. To address these challenges, this work introduces a fluorescent-probe-based fiber optic sensor for monitoring chloride levels in concrete structures. Quinine sulfate was chosen as the fluorescent material due to its exceptional sensitivity to chloride ions and its stability in concrete environments. The proposed sensor was manufactured using sol–gel and 3D-printing techniques. Tests were conducted using concrete simulation fluid and cement mortar specimens. The results demonstrate that the sensitivity of the proposed sensor is greater than 0.01 M, and its accuracy in penetration depth measurement is better than 3 mm. The findings confirm that the designed fiber optic sensor based on quinine sulfate enables real-time monitoring of chloride ions in concrete structures, offering high sensitivity (0.1% in concentration and 2.7 mm in terms of penetration depth), unique selectivity (as it is immune to other ions whose concentrations are 10 times higher than those of Cl⁻), and a compact size (10 × 20 mm). These attributes render it promising for practical engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Fiber Sensors Used for Civil Engineering)

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