Polymer Fiber Sensors for Structural and Civil Engineering Applications

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview about polymer optical fiber (POF) sensors with the focus on structural and civil engineering applications. POF properties such as the high-strain range, the low Young’s modulus, and specific scattering effects open new fields for fiber-optic sensing applications. POF properties, sensitivities, and cross-sensitivities that are relevant for sensing are introduced. Advantages and limitations are discussed. State-of-the-art POF sensors and application examples are presented in subsections with regard to their underlying measurement principles.