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Remote structural health monitoring with serially multiplexed fiber optic acoustic emission sensors

Chen Zhongyu (陈仲裕)¹ , Liang Yujin (梁玉进)² , and Farhad Ansari²

1. Shanghai Institute for Optics & Fine Mechanics, Shanghai 201800, China
2. Civil & Material Engineering, Smart Sensors & NDT Laboratory, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607
    

Abstract: Development and testing of a serially multiplexed fiber optic sensor system is described. The sensor differs from conventional fiber optic acoustic systems, as it is capable of sensing AE emissions at several points along the length of a single fiber. Multiplexing provides for single channel detection of cracks and their locations in large structural systems. An algorithm was developed for signal recognition and tagging of the AE waveforms for detection of crack locations. Laboratory experiments on plain concrete beams and post-tensioned FRP tendons were performed to evaluate the crack detection capability of the sensor system. The acoustic emission sensor was able to detect initiation, growth and location of the cracks in concrete as well as in the FRP tendons. The AE system is potentially suitable for applications involving health monitoring of structures following an earthquake.

Keywords: acoustic emission; crack detection; concrete; earthquake; fiber optic sensors; FRP tendon; multiplexing; post seismic; structural health monitoring