Method and Theory for Conversion of Distributed Fiber-Optic Strains to Crack Opening Displacements

Abstract

A new method for conversion of the distributed strain measurements to crack opening displacements (CODs) in structural elements is introduced. A hybrid approach involving theoretical and experimental strain distribution at the crack location was employed to formulate the conversion equation. The objective was to find a simple deterministic equation for practical field application that quantifies crack opening displacements directly from distributed strain measurements. The viability of the method was accomplished by experiments involving a 15-m steel beam with prefabricated flaws. A Brillouin scattering–based optical fiber sensor system was employed for distributed measurement of strains along the length of the 15-m-long beam. Two fiber Bragg grating (FBG)–based displacement sensors were also used for direct measurement of crack opening displacements at the locations of the flaws. The process involved defining and computing the bond length, which is the segment of the optical fiber affected by the presence of the crack. The distributed strain was integrated over the bond length for describing the crack opening displacements. In developing the method, it was necessary to also perform direct tension tests of the optical fiber for the acquisition of the mechanical properties. The proposed method takes into account the elastic and elastoplastic stages of deformations in the optical-fiber coating and the influence of plastic phenomena on the bond length.