Nano Ferrous Particles Dispersed on Optical Fiber Sensors for Distributed Corrosion Assessment of Civil Infrastructures

该奖项的目的是探索和创建一个分布式腐蚀监测系统，该系统具有多路复用长周期光纤光栅传感器，该传感器将与纳米铁颗粒填充聚合物一起包装。光纤光栅的波长变化通过封装光纤的有效折射率与含铁颗粒的腐蚀程度有关。该方法是开发坚固耐用的传感器，并将其与易受腐蚀的组件并行部署（例如，钢梁和钢筋），精确地量化良好控制的传感器结构中的铁颗粒的腐蚀速率和质量损失，将来自传感器的腐蚀数据与其附近的钢部件因果关联，并经济有效地评估点蚀和均匀腐蚀引起的钢构件劣化，然后评估其结构系统的承载能力。一旦在桥梁应用中得到验证和实施，所提出的腐蚀传感器可能影响运输基础设施的维护和安全。他们有可能节省高达8美元每平方英尺的桥面的情况下，桥面进行监测，并决定有一个额外的一年的服务。其结果（腐蚀速率和质量损失）可直接用于桥梁设计和管理，从而实现短期和长期效益。研究结果将通过技术出版物、国际讲习班和与其他同行机构的互访加以传播。将编制关于“腐蚀现象”和“评估工具”的两个讲座单元，并在所有教育和外联活动中使用。代表性不足的学生将直接参与这个项目，并接受这样一个高度跨学科的研究课题的培训。

The objective of this award is to explore and create a distributed corrosion monitoring system with multiplexed long period fiber grating sensors that will be packaged with nano ferrous particles filled polymers. The change in wavelength of the fiber gratings is related to the degree of corrosion in the ferrous particles through effective refractive index of the packaged optical fiber. The approach is to develop rugged sensors and deploy them in parallel with corrosion susceptible components (for example, steel beams and reinforcing bars), accurately quantify the corrosion rate and mass loss of ferrous particles in the well-controlled sensor structure, causatively relate the corrosion data from the sensors to their nearby steel components, and cost-effectively assess both pit and uniform corrosion induced deteriorations of the steel components and then the load capacity of their structural system.Once validated and implemented in bridge applications, the proposed corrosion sensors could impact the maintenance and safety of transportation infrastructures. They have the potential to save up to $8 per square foot of bridge decks in the case that the bridge decks are monitored and determined to have an extra year of service. Their outcomes (corrosion rate and mass loss) can be directly used in bridge design and management, thus realizing both short- and long-term benefits. The research findings will be disseminated through technical publications, international workshops, and exchange visits with other peer institutions. Two lecture modules on "corrosion phenomenon" and "assessment tool" will be developed and used in all education and outreach activities. Underrepresented students will directly participate in this project and get trained with such a highly interdisciplinary research topic.