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Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Fiber Optic Distributed Sensors for High-resolution Temperature Field Mapping
Published on: November 7, 2016
Temperature Measurement and Damage Detection in Concrete Beams Exposed to Fire Using PPP-BOTDA Based Fiber Optic
Yi Bao1, Matthew S Hoehler2, Christopher M Smith2
1Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 1401 N. Pine Street, Rolla, MO 65409.
Abstract:
In this study, distributed fiber optic sensors based on pulse pre-pump Brillouin optical time domain analysis (PPP-BODTA) are characterized and deployed to measure spatially-distributed temperatures in reinforced concrete specimens exposed to fire. Four beams were tested to failure in a natural gas fueled compartment fire, each instrumented with one fused silica, single-mode optical fiber as a distributed sensor and four thermocouples. Prior to concrete cracking, the distributed temperature was validated at locations of the thermocouples by a relative difference of less than 9 %. The cracks in concrete can be identified as sharp peaks in the temperature distribution since the cracks are locally filled with hot air. Concrete cracking did not affect the sensitivity of the distributed sensor but concrete spalling broke the optical fiber loop required for PPP-BOTDA measurements.
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