FIBER OPTICS SENSOR SYSTEM FOR EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MITIGATION

A NEW FIBER-OPTICS SENSING AND COMMUNICATIONS STRUCTURE, SMART SKIN ARRAY TECHNOLOGY (SSAT) SHOWS PROMISE FOR ENABLING LOCALIZED CRACK SENSING AND MEASUREMENT SYSTEMS FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES THAT HAVE BEEN SUBJECTED TO EARTHQUAKES. THE APPROACH EXTENDS THE EXISTING ADVANTAGES OF FIBER OPTICS FOR SENSING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCALIZED, REAL-TIME, HIGH RESOLUTION SURFACE CRACK SENSING ARRAY SYSTEMS. APPLICATION OF SUCH SYSETMS LESSENS THE NEED TO INTERRUPT FACILITIES' USE FOR MAINTENANCE INSPECTION PURPOSES. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF SAMPLE FABRICATION, TESTING, AND ANALYSIS TO DEMONSTRATE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY WITHIN A LABORATORY ENVIRONMENT. THE HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE SPECIFICATIONS FOR DATA ACQUISITION, RECORDING, AND DISPLAY OF CRACKING EVENTS IS BEING DEVELOPED.