Fiber optic sensors in concrete: the future?

Fiber optic sensing systems have been successfully developed for many engineering applications. The objective of this review paper is to assess the potential of fiber optic sensors for the monitoring of concrete structures. In this paper, some current applications of fiber optic sensors in concrete structures are first reviewed to demonstrate their applicability in conventional monitoring applications. The advantages of optical sensors over electrical gauges and transducers are also discussed. Then, we will focus on two novel fiber optic sensors for the monitoring of cracking and delamination in concrete structures without requiring a priori knowledge of the damage locations. Through these two examples, it is demonstrated that the proper design of optic sensors can provide useful sensing capabilities unprecedented with conventional sensors. With further research focusing on the development of novel sensing concepts and the reduction of sensor cost, the widespread use of optical sensors in concrete structures can become a reality in the future.