Optical Chemo-Sensing for Civil and Mechanical Systems, An Interdisciplinary Exploratory Research Project

在过去的几十年里，研发努力导致了高性能材料的生产，这些材料比以前更坚固、更耐用。我们还了解到，在我们的结构中的许多恶化过程涉及有害的化学反应，由离子传输控制的速率，这导致材料的物理性质的退化。在过去十年中，传感技术的发展使我们能够测量这些化学反应造成的物理损害。但是，除少数例外情况外，没有从内部实时监测和评价该系统化学环境的工具。这些信息的提供将有助于优化维修和更换战略，并将显著降低修复成本。提出了一种用于土木和机械系统实时分布式监测的光纤化学传感器系列。所提出的化学传感器包括一个带有灵敏的荧光聚合物包层/涂层的光纤，其吸收和发射特性通过与环境的相互作用而改变。这种相互作用导致特定目标荧光团发射特定波长，为氯化物、钙、氧、pH等的分布式化学传感提供了一个高度选择性和灵敏的过程。

In the past few decades, R&D efforts have resulted in production of high performance materials, which are stronger and more durable than before. We have also learned that many deterioration processes in our structures involve deleterious chemical reactions, rate-controlled by ionic transport, which lead to degradation of the physical properties of the material. Developments in sensing technology in the past decade have enabled us to measure the physical damage caused by these chemical reactions. However, with a few exceptions, tools for real-time monitoring and evaluation of the chemical environment of the system from within are not available. Availability of this information will help optimize repair and replacement strategies, and it will lead to significant reductions in rehabilitation costs. Development of a family of fiber optic chemical sensors for real-time distributed monitoring of civil and mechanical systems is proposed. The proposed chemical sensor comprises an optical fiber with a sensitive fluorescent polymer cladding/coating, whose absorption and emission properties are altered by interaction with its environment. This interaction that leads to emission of specific wavelength by the target-specific fluorophore, provides a highly selective and sensitive process for distributed chemical sensing of chlorides, calcium, oxygen, pH and more.