TY - GEN
T1 - Interferometric inclinometer for structural monitoring
AU - Inaudi, D.
AU - Glisic, B.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2002 IEEE.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - The introduction of long-gauge fiber optic sensors has opened new opportunities for the monitoring of large structures. Using these sensors it is possible to observe the local elongation of a structure and calculate its global deformations. The use of internal sensors detecting integrated strain is however unable to detect the rigid-body motion of a structure, relative to an external reference system. This would require the installation of long deformation sensors connecting the structure with external reference points. Another possibility is to use gravity as a reference to measure vertical rotations of the structure. A gravity-referenced rotation sensor is conventionally called an inclinometer and measures the angle variations between a nominally vertical reference line in the structure and the direction of gravity. It is possible to use uni-axial inclinometers or bi-axial ones, measuring rotations in the two perpendicular vertical planes. Today's inclinometers are based on a variety of techniques and can achieve sensitivities in the micro-radian range. When using fiber optic deformations sensors in a given structure, it would however be interesting to use the same technology to obtain inclination reading. This prompted us to develop a fiber optic-based inclinometer compatible with the SOFO system. This contribution describes the development of this novel sensor and the first measurements obtained with it.
AB - The introduction of long-gauge fiber optic sensors has opened new opportunities for the monitoring of large structures. Using these sensors it is possible to observe the local elongation of a structure and calculate its global deformations. The use of internal sensors detecting integrated strain is however unable to detect the rigid-body motion of a structure, relative to an external reference system. This would require the installation of long deformation sensors connecting the structure with external reference points. Another possibility is to use gravity as a reference to measure vertical rotations of the structure. A gravity-referenced rotation sensor is conventionally called an inclinometer and measures the angle variations between a nominally vertical reference line in the structure and the direction of gravity. It is possible to use uni-axial inclinometers or bi-axial ones, measuring rotations in the two perpendicular vertical planes. Today's inclinometers are based on a variety of techniques and can achieve sensitivities in the micro-radian range. When using fiber optic deformations sensors in a given structure, it would however be interesting to use the same technology to obtain inclination reading. This prompted us to develop a fiber optic-based inclinometer compatible with the SOFO system. This contribution describes the development of this novel sensor and the first measurements obtained with it.
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U2 - 10.1109/OFS.2002.1000635
DO - 10.1109/OFS.2002.1000635
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:84963669763
T3 - 2002 15th Optical Fiber Sensors Conference Technical Digest, OFS 2002
SP - 391
EP - 394
BT - 2002 15th Optical Fiber Sensors Conference Technical Digest, OFS 2002
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 15th Optical Fiber Sensors Conference Technical Digest, OFS 2002
Y2 - 6 May 2002 through 10 May 2002
ER -