Model for measurement of thermal expansion coefficient of concrete by fiber optic sensor

The existence of a coating on an optical fiber results in a difference between the strain of the matrix concrete and that sensed by the embedded fiber optic sensor. This paper deals with the theoretical model for measurement of thermal expansion coefficient of concrete by embedded fiber optic sensor. The fiber core, the coating of the optical fiber, and the matrix concrete were all supposed to be elastic. And the bonding surfaces were supposed to be intact, that is to say, there is no relative slip deformation at the interface between the matrix concrete and the coating of the optical fiber, and that between the coating and the fiber core. Based on these assumptions, a theoretical model was developed for measurement of thermal expansion coefficient of concrete. Some experiments were done to verify the validation of the theoretical model. And the comparison indicates a good agreement between the experimental and theoretical results. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.