A novel distributed optical crack sensor for concrete structures

Abstract The damage condition of a concrete structure can be assessed through the monitoring of cracks. The objective of the present investigation is to develop a novel optical fiber sensor for the detection of cracks and the subsequent monitoring of their openings. With this sensing concept, (i) no a-priori knowledge of crack location is required, and (ii) a small number of fibers can be employed to detect and monitor a large number of cracks. This paper presents the sensing concept, preliminary experimental results, and a theoretical model for the prediction of optical power loss. The findings of this investigation demonstrate the potential of the novel sensing technique for practical applications.