Abstract
Monitoring tendon forces of in-service post-tensioned concrete elements is important for understanding the health of the structures and evaluating the condition of prestressing strands. Current methods for determining the tendon forces of in-service structures have limitations in terms of simplicity, reliability, or durability and often provide measurements only at discrete locations. Investigations into alternative technologies to evaluate post-tensioning tendon forces for the health monitoring of prestressed concrete structures are needed.
When installed along the length of post-tensioned tendons in concrete structures, optical fiber sensors provide a promising means to overcome the existing challenges of tendon force measurement. Prestressing strand that incorporates optical fiber sensors along the length of the strand has been developed by embedding the fibers in epoxy coating. The strands use Brillouin optical time domain reflectometry (BOTDR) to measure strain along the length of the entire strand.
A research program is underway to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of strain data acquired from the optical fiber sensors and to develop a knowledge base needed for widespread field implementation. This paper describes tensile tests conducted on the prestressing strand that allow the assessment of strain acquired from the optical fibers using BOTDR. To date, the experiments have given promising results for the ability of the optical fiber sensors to provide reliable strain data that could be acquired during the service life of structures. Test results are presented along with a discussion of ongoing research and possible widespread deployment of the technology.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Feng C, Kadum JE, Schneider T (2019) The state-of-the-art of brillouin distributed fiber sensing. In: Liaw S-K (ed.) Fiber optic sensing - principle, measurement and applications. IntechOpen, London, 27 p. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84684
Soto MA (2019) Distributed brillouin sensing: time-domain techniques. In: Peng G-D (ed) Handbook of optical fibers. Springer, Singapore, pp 1663–1753. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-7087-7_7
VIAVI (2023) Fiber optic sensing: learn how to predict fiber breaks and weak points with help from VIAVI. VIAVI Solutions Inc. https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/fiber-optic-sensing. Accessed 31 Jan 2023
Corning Incorporated (2015) BOTDR Measurement Techniques and Brillouin Backscatter Characteristics of Corning Single-Mode Optical Fibers, WP4259, 9 p. Corning Incorporated, New York. https://www.corning.com/media/worldwide/coc/documents/Fiber/white-paper/WP4259.pdf. Accessed 31 Jan 2023
Imai M, et al (2019) Stress distribution monitoring of ground anchor using optical fiber-embedded strand. In: Lynch JP, Huang H, Sohn H, Wang K-W (eds.) Proceedings of SPIE 10970, sensors and smart structures technologies for civil, mechanical, and aerospace systems 2019. SPIE, Bellingham, 6 p. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2514201
VIAVI (2022) Data Sheet, VIAVI, T-BERD/MTS-8000 DTSS: Distributed Fiber Optic Solution for Measuring Temperature and Strain Using Single Ended Brillouin OTDR. VIAVI Solutions Inc., 5 p. https://www.viavisolutions.com/en-us/literature/t-berd-mts-8000-dtss-data-sheets-en.pdf. Accessed 31 Jan 2023
Klar A, et al (2006) Distributed strain measurement for pile foundations. In: Proceedings of the institution of civil engineers - geotechnical engineering, vol 159, no 3, pp 135–144. https://doi.org/10.1680/geng.2006.159.3.135
Klar A, Goldfeld Y, Charas Z (2010) Measures for identifying cracks within reinforced concrete beams using BOTDR. In: Tomizuka M (ed.) Proceedings of SPIE 7647, sensors and smart structures technologies for civil, mechanical, and aerospace systems 2010. SPIE, Bellingham, 6 p. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.848578
Okubo K, et al (2019) Development and application of the measuring method for PC-tensioning force by optical fibre. In: Derkowski W, Gwoździewicz P, Hojdys Ł, Krajewski P, Pańtak M (eds.) Proceedings of the fib symposium 2019, concrete - innovations in materials, design and structures. fib, Lausanne, pp 1194–1201
ASTM International (2020) Standard test methods for testing multi-wire steel prestressing strand, ASTM A1061/A1061M – 20a. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 5 p. https://doi.org/10.1520/A1061_A1061M-20AE01
Acknowledgments
The assistance and support from Sumitomo Electric Industries and Sumiden Wire Products Corporation has been essential to the research and is greatly appreciated.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this paper
Cite this paper
Williams, C., Khatri, M., Okumus, P., Holt, R. (2023). Post-tensioning Force Measurement Using Optical Fiber Sensor-Embedded Strand for Prestressed Concrete Structures. In: Ilki, A., Çavunt, D., Çavunt, Y.S. (eds) Building for the Future: Durable, Sustainable, Resilient. fib Symposium 2023. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 350. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32511-3_65
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-32511-3_65
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-32510-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-32511-3
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)