High sensitivity and resolution sensor plastic optical fiber for determining compressive and tensile tensor concrete applications

Abstract

This research discusses sensors based on plastic optical fiber (POF) for concrete compressive tests and concrete tensile tests. Sensors are made of plastic optical fibers without coat attached to concrete surfaces or planted in concrete with straight, one bending, and two bending configurations. Sensors are attached to concrete with four configurations to find the best sensitivity and resolution values. The pressure on the sensor is related to the loss of power. The best sensor characteristic based on plastic optical fiber for concrete compressive test and the concrete tensile test is the sensor with two bending configurations that are planted in concrete. The sensitivity and resolution values in the concrete compressive strength test were 0.085 volts/kN and 0.047 kN. While the value of sensitivity and resolution of the concrete tensile test obtained is 0.082 volts/kN, and 0.048 kN. Sensor-based on plastic optical fiber has the advantage that is low cost and simple in measurement method that can be applied for monitoring the condition of the building structure.