Distributed polymer optical fiber sensors in geotextiles for monitoring of earthwork structures
(2009)
We present the latest advances in distributed strain measurement in perfluorinated polymer optical fibres (POFs) using backscatter techniques. Compared to previously introduced poly(methyl methacrylate) POFs, the measurement length can be extended to more than 500 m at improved spatial resolution of a few centimetres. It is shown that strain in a perfluorinated POF can be measured up to 100%. In parallel to these investigations, the incoherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR) technique is introduced to detect strained fibre sections and to measure distributed length change along the fibre with sub-millimetre resolution by applying a cross-correlation algorithm to the backscatter signal. The overall superior performance of the OFDR technique compared to the optical time domain reflectometry in terms of accuracy, dynamic range, spatial resolution and measurement speed is presented. The proposed sensor system is a promising technique for use in structural health monitoring applications where the precise detection of high strain is required.
In this document a new distributed sensor based on Rayleigh scattering in polymer optical fibers (POF) is proposed and first measurement results of the proposed sensor are shown. Different from Silica glas optical fibers POF absorb high quantities of water resulting in a change of their molecular structure and thereby reducing the present small scattering centers in areas of high humidity. The interdependence between scattering intensity and relative humidity is being investigated in case of steady cycles as well as stepwise changes of humidity and in the presence of moisture. A quantitative measure of humidity and scattering is presented.
POF sensors integrated in technical textiles for monitoring of earthwork structures and masonry
(2009)
In this paper the influence of combined temperature and strain changes as well as changes of moisture content on polymer optical fibers made of polymethyl methacrylat (PMMA) is investigated. The increase of the scattering coefficient with increasing temperature for various strain levels is observed and quantified. The measurement results of influence of humidity on scattering intensity of PMMA-POF encourage to porpose these as a distributed humidity sensor.