In Situ and Laboratory Mechanical Characterization Using High-Resolution Fiber Optic Distributed Sensing

This paper explores the potential use of high-resolution fiber optic distributed sensing technology for in situ moduli profiling and in laboratory element testing. In recent times, strain measurement using fiber optics has been employed in innovative civil engineering applications such as in the health monitoring of ageing infrastructures. Through recent developments, in particular Rayleigh backscatter optical frequency domain reflectometry technique, the fiber optic sensing technology is nowadays capable of providing continuous distributed strain measurement with a higher spatial resolution of the order of millimeters. As a result, the technology can potentially serve as a viable alternative to conventional strain gauges (i.e. high-spatial resolution yet localized measurement devices) or seismic geophysical measurement (i.e. distributed yet low-spatial resolution). This paper provides two examples of its applicability to both in situ and laboratory mechanical characterization.