Monitoring Reinforced Concrete Serviceability Performance Using Fiber-Optic Sensors

Monitoring the serviceability performance of reinforced concrete (RC) structures in the field provides critical data for informing RC modeling, analysis, and design. Currently, there is a lack of monitoring technology that can capture the complex behavior of RC elements in place, in detail, while also being feasible to implement. A technique of using fiber-optic sensors to simultaneously monitor both distributed RC beam deflections and crack widths is developed and described. Thirteen beam specimens with varying properties were tested in three-point bending to evaluate the technique against other sensor technologies. The results showed that distributed beam deflections can be accurately measured up until load levels approaching failure, while crack widths can be measured up until a width of 0.3 mm (0.0118 in.). The technique is practical to implement and provides robust data sets not achievable with other sensing technologies, making it an effective option for field-monitoring applications.