Abstract
We present a distributed polymer optical fiber sensor system for deformation monitoring of geotechnical infrastructure. The sensor system is based on the digital incoherent optical frequency domain reflectometry (I-OFDR) for the detection of local strain events along a perfluorinated polymer optical fiber (PF-POF) used as a sensing fiber. For the best possible load transfer, the PF-POFs were integrated onto geotextiles which pose a sensor carrier for the sensing fiber. By using elastic PF-POF instead of a standard glass fiber as a sensing fiber the strain range of geotextile-integrated fiber optic sensors could be extended up to 10 % in accordance with the end-user requirements. In order to reduce overall costs of the sensor system and achieve its robustness required for use on site, the standard vector network analyzer used by default was replaced by an integrated digital board for optical frequency domain analysis. This implementation showed a significant improvement in the dynamic range and sensitivity compared to the previous measurement system based on the conventional network analyzer. The functionality of the entire sensor system was proven in the field test during the installation of two geomats with integrated PF-POFs embedded into a road embankment in a section of the B 91 federal road near Werschen in the greater Leipzig area. To monitor the installation-related changes in the condition of both sensor-based geomats several control measurements on the embedded PF-POFs and co-integrated reference glass fibers were carried as the construction works progressed. The measurements recorded in the field confirm the great potential of the selected PF-POF used as the distributed fiber optic strain sensor. The future management of the remaining challenges of industrial strain-coupled sensor integration can result in a successful market launch of the PF-POF-sensor integrated into geosynthetics. The sensor system is ready to be used for practical application.
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