Preliminary Study on the Long-term Stability of Fiber-Optic Sensors

摘要

Engineering structures such as bridges, dams or larger buildings are subjected to deterioration overrntime. Based on the requirement to ensure the structures' reliability and usability their performancernand condition has to be monitored continuously or at least checked periodically. Adding to the rangernof available system fiber-optic sensors are becoming increasingly popular. In course of this paperrnthe basic characteristics of fiber-optic sensors in permanently installed monitoring systems will berndiscussed including benefits over other sensor technologies. Since long-term stability is anrnimportant property for sensors applied within a permanent monitoring system a study was set up tornlook into the effects of vibration on the sensors' stability. The associated experimental set-up andrntest program will be discussed. Finally first results concerning the long-term stability andrnapplicability of fiber-optic sensors in long-term monitoring systems will be presented.