Analysis Characteristics Embedded Plastic Optical Fiber Sensors for Crack Detection in Concrete Structures A. Arifin (a*), Kasmiah G. (a), Muhammad Yunus (a), Syamsir Dewang (a), Bualkar Abdullah (a), Dahlang Tahir (a)
a) Physics Department, Faculty of MIPA, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245 Indonesia
*arifinpide[at]gmail.com
Abstract
Plastic optical fiber (POF) used as sensors to detect cracks in concrete structures. Sensors made using straight, sinusoidal, loop, and triangle configurations. The POF connected to LED light source and photodetector. The light from LED will propagate along the embedded POF in the concrete then received by the photodetector and measured using by Optical Power Meter in the form of output power displayed on the computer. Sensor testing done by putting pressure on the concrete using the Ultimate Testing Machine until a crack occurs causing the POF in the concrete to experience strain. The strain of the POF sensor will cause power losses, so the light intensity received by the photodetector will be decreases. The best measurements obtained at triangle configuration sensors 60⁰ have characteristics with a range value of 1,975 μW, sensitivity of 0,790 μW/mm and resolution of 0,001 mm. Sensors based POF for measurement of cracks in concrete structures have the advantages like easy fabrication, low cost, simple measurement system, and high sensitivity.
