Superwide-Range Fiber Bragg Grating Displacement Sensor Based on an Eccentric Gear: Principles and Experiments

Abstract

Aiming at the large displacement monitoring needs of slope, road, and bridge engineering, a new method concerning the superwide-range fiber Bragg grating (FBG) displacement sensor based on eccentric gear was investigated. The structure of the sensor was designed and the formula for the wavelength-displacement relationship was established via waveform fitting from calibration tests. The lateral displacement of a first-story shear wall was successfully monitored in a hysteresis test of a steel frame–reinforced concrete infill wall. A FBG relative displacement sensor was developed refitting a superwide-range fiber Bragg grating displacement sensor based on eccentric gear. The refitted sensor was applied in a self-repairing performance test of a shape memory alloy (SMA) strengthened concrete beam. The monitoring results of the crack were compared with the results of an integrated test instrument, and the results showed that the sensor exhibited very good accuracy. The innovative FBG displacement sensor has a low influence on the structure, strong practicability, and good prospects for engineering applications.