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Note: A concrete erosion sensor based on a chirped fibre optic Bragg grating
Patrick Kanopoulos1, Kaiwen Xia1, Xijia Gu2
1Department of Civil Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A4, Canada.
The Review of Scientific Instruments
|January 3, 2016
Summary
A new concrete erosion sensor uses a chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG) to accurately measure material loss. This technology offers a safer, more precise method for monitoring structural integrity in civil engineering projects.
Area of Science:
- Civil Engineering
- Materials Science
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Concrete erosion in civil structures poses risks to structural integrity.
- Manual monitoring of erosion is often hazardous and impractical in confined or dangerous environments like hydrotunnels and dam spillways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel concrete erosion sensor.
- To demonstrate the sensor's capability for precise, single-point erosion monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Development of a concrete erosion sensor utilizing a chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG).
- Embedding the FBG sensor below the concrete surface to detect changes.
- Analyzing the narrowing of the reflected light spectrum bandwidth as an indicator of erosion.
Main Results:
- The chirped FBG sensor accurately monitors concrete erosion to sub-millimetre precision.
- A straightforward procedure for quantifying erosion extent was developed and validated.
- Experimental demonstration confirmed the sensor's effectiveness.
Conclusions:
- The chirped FBG sensor provides a reliable and accurate method for assessing concrete erosion.
- This technology enhances safety and efficiency in monitoring critical civil infrastructure.
