Fiber optic monitoring of a SCARC specimens with crack location prediction

This paper is a summary of the preliminary experimental results regarding the use of optical fiber Bragg grating (OFBG) sensing equipment to monitor the local strain about the circumference of un-axially restricted, thick walled, unreinforced concrete vessels, developed under the moniker Simulated Carbon Ash Retention Cylinder (SCARC), subject to internal expansion pressure from ash carbon concrete (ACC). Internal pressure developed following the introduction of varying combinations of cement, fly-ash, aluminum powder, carbon-dioxide, and water to the voided region of the SCARC specimens. Seven specimens were created, and monitored, so that cracking patterns, material property variables, and OFBG strain irregularities could be investigated to begin formulating a crack location prediction and detection system.