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TuG3-1 (Invited)

Applications of Distributed Fiber Strain Sensing for Smart Structures


Hiroshi Naruse NTT Access Network Service Systems Laboratories 1-7-1, Hanabatake, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0805 Japan (naruse@ansl.ntt.co.j p)

Abstract This paper reviews the application of a distributed fiber strain sensor (BOTDR) to three structures. The results suggest that this approach is useful for realizing smart structures. 1. Introduction It is indispensable for smart structures to be able to monitor their own condition on the basis of data measured by a built-in sensor system. The location and extent of strain occurring in structures is important information in terms of understanding their condition. Recently, various types of optical fiber sensor system have been proposed. They utilize, for example, a fiber Bragg grating ['I, a twisted optical fiber ['I, or Brillouin scattering characteristics
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It is anticipated that the Brillouin optical time domain reflectometer (BOTDR) ['I will provide a strain sensor that will allow us to realize smart structures in the fields of civil and construction engineering. This is because a BOTDR is capable of measuring distributed strain over several kilometers. This paper outlines three kinds of structural strain measurement undertaken using a BOTDR system and reveals its potential for realizing smart structures. 2. Concrete beam bending strain measurement The bending strain distribution of a concrete beam was measured using the setup shown in Fig. 1. The beam was simply supported at two points and a load was applied at two other points. Under these load and support conditions, the strain increases linearly from the support to the load points, and maintains a constant value between the load points. That is, a trapezoid strain distribution is formed. Compressive and tensile strain is produced in the upper and lower sides, respectively. A fiber was installed close to steel bars that were buried 5 cm below the surface. The fiber was coated with glass fiber-reinforced plastic and resin with a rough surface around the plastic. Compared with a previous fiber Is], this fiber has been improved so that it can be connected at an arbitrary position. Strain gauges were also fixed to the steel bars for comparison. Figure 2 shows the strain measurement result when a load of 41 tons was applied to each load point. The solid lines and circles show the results obtained with the fiber and strain gauges, respectively. The results show that the above mentioned trapezoid strain distribution occurred in both sides. The strain in the lower side was larger than that in the upper. This was because only the

steel bars supported the load due to a crack in the lower side. The practical use of the fiber was also confirmed by means of a test installation in a building under construction, as shown in Fig. 3. This study was undertaken in cooperation with the Institute of Technology, Shimizu Corporation. 3. River levee change detectionL6] Figure 4 shows an experiment designed to detect changes in a river levee. A full-scale levee model constructed in an indoor experimental facility was subjected to 10 hours of rainfall, and was then collapsed by allowing water to penetrate it from the river (wall) side. White lines were drawn on the face both horizontally and vertically at intervals of 1 m. An aluminum sensor plate was buried under the levee slope surface at a depth of 31 cm between the lowest and second from lowest horizontal lines. It experienced the force resulting from the soil movement caused by the collapse. The plate was 19 m long, 5 cm wide, and 0.5 mm thick and had a 4fiber ribbon optical fiber fixed to it. The change in the river levee was detected by monitoring the strain in the sensor plate. The above mentioned Fig. 4 shows the appearance of the river levee and Fig. 5 shows the strain measured by the sensor plate 20 hours after penetration began. The collapse approaching the sensor plate and a strain of more than 0.005% were observed in some places. Figures 4 and 5 reveal that the river levee change can be detected when the collapse progresses near the sensor plates. This experiment was performed jointly with the Institute of River and Basin Integrated Communications System. 4. Monitoring an International America's Cup Class (IACC) yacht17] IACC yachts are constructed of composite materials consisting of carbon fiber reinforced plastic skins and an aluminum honeycomb core to provide high levels of stiffness and strength while minimizing the weight. However, since these materials have a tendency to debond leading to deterioration and severe damage to the yacht, it is important to detect such damage as early as possible. The mast of the yacht was fixed to the hull by forestays/backstays and sidestays (wires connected between the top of the mast and the bowktern and between the top of the mast and both sides of the yacht). The tension in these wires causes the bending moment and the load to reach maximum in the region surrounding the mast, consequently the strain also reaches maximum there. The optical fiber was attached to the hull as shown in Fig. 6 , which also depicts the bulkhead and the fiber from j to m. The

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strain in sections a-h and j-m was measured to monitor the damage caused by the moment and the load, respectively. Figure 7 shows the measurement results. Compressive and tensile strain were observed in sections a-b and g-h, and sections c-d and e-f, respectively. The strain distribution was symmetrical in relation to the hull center line, that is at the center of points of d and e. Since the same distribution was observed in sections j-k and I-m attached to the hull and bulkhead, respectively, it was assumed that they suffered no debonding. The difference between the latest and earlier strain distributions were monitored during races. No damage was detected because the yachts experienced no critical incidents. This monitoring was accomplished in cooperation with Tokyo University and GH Craft Ltd. 5. Conclusion This paper described the effectiveness of a system incorporating a BOTDR, which is a distributed fiber strain sensor, for measuring strain in concrete, soil, Fiber Steel bar

and composite material structures. These results show the system will be useful as a strain sensor that will enable us to realize smart structures in many fields. References [l] A. D. Kersey, et al., J. Lightwave Technol., 15, 1442-1463 (1997). [2] T. Abe, et al., J. Lightwave Technol., 7, 525-529 (1989). [3] T. Horiguchi, et al., J . Lightwave Technol., 13, 1296-1302 (1995). [4] K. Hotate, et al., IEICE Trans. Electron., E83-C, 405-412 (2000). [5] H. Naruse, Proc OFMC99, 100-105 (1999). [6] H. Naruse, et al., IEICE Trans. Electron., E83-C, 462-467 (2000). [7] H. Murayama, et al., Proc Smart Structures and Materials, SPIE, 3986, 3 12-323 (2000).

_ _ _ ~ ~ Fig.4 Appearance of levee slope face (20 hours)


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Cross section L~~ Concrete beam


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3.4 m Fig. 1 Concrete beam bending strain measurement

3 6 9 12 15 18 Distance from left side (m) Fig. 5 Measured strain of lowest sensor nlate

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1 2 3 Position (m) Fig. 2 Measured bending strain


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Fig. 6 Optical fiber attached to hull


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Fig. 3 Installation in a building under construction

10 20 30 40 0 IO Distance from standard points Fig. 7 Distribution of measured strain

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