Elevators are a necessary component of the modern urban and suburban life. The guide rails the car and counterweight move on are the most sensitive parts when it comes to de-habilitating damage that can be caused by an earthquake. Conventional sensors are becoming obsolete in sensing for today's multistory buildings because they don't monitor the structural health of the guide rails. This sensing task falls into the fiber sensing niche market because of a fiber sensor's ability to be multiplexed. Previous work by Taplin and Jackson showed demodulation of the interference spectrum of two Fabry-Perot cavities using Fourier analysis. The goal of this research is to use Fourier analysis to demodulate the spectrum of four multiplexed extrinsic Fabry-Perot fiber interferometers for strain measurements. Comparisons of fiber, foil, and theoretical strains are made. Also, experiments showing the system's air-gap stability and crosstalk are provided. / Master of Science

Force and moment balances have proved to be essential in the measurement and calculation of aerodynamic properties during wind tunnel testing. With the recent advancements of technology, new fiber optic sensors have been designed to replace the conventional foil strain gage sensors commonly found on balances, thereby offering several distinct advantages. The use of fiber optic sensors on a balance brings with it some potential advantages over conventional strain gage balances including increased resolution and accuracy, insensitivity to electromagnetic interference, and the capability of use at high temperatures. By using the fiber optic sensors, some of the limitations of the conventional balance can be overcome, leading to a better overall balance design. This thesis considers an initial trial application of new fiber optic sensors on a conventional, six-component sting balance while retaining the original foil strain gage sensors for comparison. Tests were conducted with a blunt, 10º half-angle cone model in the Virginia Tech 9x9 inch Supersonic Wind Tunnel at Mach 2.4 with a total pressure of 48 psia and ambient total temperature of 25.3ºC. Results showed a close comparison between the foil strain gages and the fiber optic sensor measurements, which were set up to measure the normal force and pitching moment on the blunt cone model. A Finite Element Model (FEM) of the sting balance was produced in order to determine the best locations for the fiber optic sensors on the sting balance. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was also used in order to predict and compare the results acquired from all of the sensors. / Master of Science

The development and transition of optical fiber sensors from experimental stage to practical applications largely depends on manufacturing cost and simplicity. To date, in-fiber grating sensors are largely manufactured by ultraviolet lasers despite higher fabrication cost and complexity. Besides, ultraviolet radiation can only write gratings in doped fibers. Therefore, reaping the benefits of existing fibers such as pure silica fiber, photonics crystal fibers etc. cannot be achieved using this technique. In contrast, uses of ultra-fast lasers have the potential to eliminate or minimize those drawbacks. However, extensive fabrication and packaging research is required for ultrafast laser technology to mature and offer grating based sensors fabrication in industrial scale. This dissertation presents design and fabrication of fiber optic sensors using femtosecond laser for measurement of ambient refractive index and temperature. The femtosecond laser operating at 780 nm with pulse duration of 172 fs and pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz is used to study bulk index modification and fabricate fiber long period and short period gratings. Effective and reliable fabrication of in-fiber gratings requires spatial control of refractive index written in optical fiber. With an aim to better control spatial index modulation in direct ultrafast writing, primary focus of this work is given to write single-shot submicron periodic voids in bulk glass. Femtosecond pulse filamentation in glass is studied to understand the morphology of bulk index change written by ultrashort pulses. Laser writing parameters (such as beam diameter, pulse energy, scanning speed, depth of focus, etc.) are then further tuned to write pulse filamentation induced refractive index change in optical fibers suitable for fiber grating fabrication. In order to design and tailor grating’s spectrum, measurement of in-fiber index is introduced in this work. We propose fiber Bragg grating based Fabry-Perot cavity structure (cavity length, L= 10 mm) to characterize femtosecond pulse filamentation induced refractive index change in the core of standard SMF. In addition, Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) is proposed as an alternative yet effective and low cost tool to measure in-fiber index change. Comsol simulation is used to validate the quantification of index change. Measured index change is used in Optiwave simulation to design fiber long period gratings in standard telecommunication and pure silica core fibers. To increase fabrication reliability, we introduce inscription of helical long period gratings using a custom made rotary stage. Tapered photonic crystal and microfiber based Mach-Zehnder interferometer is also investigated for ambient refractive index measurement. Miniature fiber Bragg grating written in microfiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer is used in this work for multi-parameter sensing as well as temperature compensated refractive index sensing. Microfiber Bragg gratings buried in materials of higher thermal expansion coefficient is also proposed to significantly enhance temperature sensitivity. / Graduate / 0548, 0794, 0775 / fariduvic@gmail.com

<p>U postupku praćenja stanja građevinskih struktura vr&scaron;i se nadzor nad fizičkim (mehaničkim), meteorolo&scaron;kim i hemijskim parametrima. U praksi se za merenje navedenih parametara koristi veliki broj instrumenata-senzora. Na osnovu uvida u aktuelno stanje iz oblasti istraživanja, zatim evidentne potrebe za istraživanjima o potencijalu postojećih i novih instrumenata i senzora za merenje geometrijskih deformacija i ekspanziji kori&scaron;ćenja fiber optičke senzorske tehnologije definisana je oblast istraživanja ove doktorske disertacije. U doktorskoj disertaciji izvr&scaron;eno je teorijsko i eksperimentalno istraživanje postojećih metoda za praćenje geometrijskih deformacija i razvoj sistema baziranog na fiber optičkom senzoru zakrivljenosti (eng. Fiber Optic Curvature Sensor &ndash; FOCS).</p> / <p>In the process of structural health monitoring (SHM) inspection of physical (mechanical), meteorological and chemical parameters is performed. In practice, a large number of instruments-sensors are used to measure these parameters. The field of research of this doctoral dissertation is based on the insight into the current state in the field of research, then the evident need for research on the potential of existing and new instruments and sensors for measuring geometric deformations and the usage expansion of fiber optic sensor technology. In the doctoral dissertation, theoretical and experimental study of the existing methods for monitoring geometric deformations and the development of a fiber optic curvature sensor (FOCS) system is performed.</p>

This thesis deals with asset management of structures through Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Twins. Background: Current inspection and management processes for civil structures are time-consuming and can even be inaccurate. There is an increasingly high potential to improve these processes through recent advances in technology. Digital Twins offer a common platform to these technologies, so they can interact and be used to their optimal performance. Other industries have significantly advanced in the development of Digital Twins, however, in the construction industry there are still many gaps and room for improvement. Aim and objectives: The main aim of this project was to investigate the status of Digital Twins in the construction industry and propose a methodology for a Digital Twin for asset management of structures. The three immediate objectives sought are (i) Perform a literature review to establish the current practice with digital twins, in both construction and other industries, and what are the gaps for asset management of structures; (ii) Participate in a pilot experimental program that yields data to a potential digital twin prototype; and (iii) Define a methodology for a digital twin for asset management of structures which fills the identified gaps. Methods of investigation: A literature review was performed and served as basis for the development of a methodology for a digital twin. A pilot experimental program was defined and performed, and its results were used for BIM and Finite Element (FE) models. A webapp was also created using Autodesk Forge and Java programming language, andthe BIM model was uploaded into it. Results: The literature review provided insight into the maturity level of digital twins, as well as on bridge inspection, maintenance and monitoring, BIM, facility and asset management, and Bridge Management Systems (BMS). A methodology to achieve a digital twin for asset management was proposed, and the conducted experimental program yielded data results to be used in future research. Conclusion: There has been significant progress in technology to improve structural assessment and analysis, however, their full potential is still under-explored. A digital twin created in a common data environment can provide a platform for these technologies to improve efficiency of current practices. Nonetheless, the construction industry is still significantly behind other industries such as aerospace and automotive.

This dissertation deals with the solution of three inverse problems in structural mechanics. The first one is load updating for finite element models (FEMs). A least squares fitting is used to identify the load parameters. The basic studies are made for geometrically linear and nonlinear FEMs of beams or frames by using a four-noded curved beam element, which, for a given precision, may significantly solve the ill-posed problem by reducing the overall number of degrees of freedom (DOF) of the system, especially the number of the unknown variables to obtain an overdetermined system. For the basic studies, the unknown applied load within an element is represented by a linear combination of integrated Legendre polynomials, the coefficients of which are the parameters to be extracted using measured displacements or strains. The optimizer L-BFGS-B is used to solve the least squares problem. The second problem is the placement optimization of a distributed sensing fiber optic sensor for a smart bed using Genetic Algorithms (GA), where the sensor performance is maximized. The sensing fiber optic cable is represented by a Non-uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) curve, which changes the placement of a set of infinite number of the infinitesimal sensors to the placement of a set of finite number of the control points. The sensor performance is simplified as the integration of the absolute curvature change of the fiber optic cable with respect to a perturbation due to the body movement of a patient. The smart bed is modeled as an elastic mattress core, which supports a fiber optic sensor cable. The initial and deformed geometries of the bed due to the body weight of the patient are calculated using MSC/NASTRAN for a given body pressure. The deformation of the fiber optic cable can be extracted from the deformation of the mattress. The performance of the fiber optic sensor for any given placement is further calculated for any given perturbation. The third application is stiffened panel optimization, including the size and placement optimization for the blade stiffeners, subject to buckling and stress constraints. The present work uses NURBS for the panel and stiffener representation. The mesh for the panel is generated using DistMesh, a triangulation algorithm in MATLAB. A NASTRAN/MATLAB interface is developed to automatically transfer the data between the analysis and optimization processes respectively. The optimization consists of minimizing the weight of the stiffened panel with design variables being the thickness of the plate and height and width of the stiffener as well as the placement of the stiffeners subjected to buckling and stress constraints under in-plane normal/shear and out-plane pressure loading conditions. / Ph. D.

O trabalho de doutorado teve como objetivo desenvolver um modulador óptico baseado em filme magnetostrictivo para aplicação como magnetômetro. A modelagem e simulação do dispositivo foi realizada utilizando software com cálculo por método dos elementos finitos (MEF) e teve como finalidade auxiliar iterativamente os processos de projeto e fabricação do modulador. A originalidade da proposta baseia-se na construção de um guia de onda em óptica integrada recoberto por um filme magnetostrictivo para permitir a modulação , via efeito elasto-óptico, da onda guiada pela aplicação de campos magnéticos externos. O campo magnético aplicado provoca a deformação o material magnetostrictivo que induz uma modificação no perfil de esforço aplicado ao substrato. O substrato tem suas propriedades ópticas alteradas devido ao efeito elasto-óptico, o que provoca mudanças nas propriedades da luz transmitida. O trabalho tem seu início com o estudo e a caracterização de filmes magnetostrictivos de Tb25F275 e Tb23Co77 depositados por sputtering sobre substratos de silício. Uma técnica para preparação das amostras e medição da magnetostricção foi estabelecida e os coeficientes de magnetostrição dos filmes foram determinados a partir das medições diretas dos deslocamentos das amostras, em função dos campos magnéticos aplicados, utilizando a técnica de Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Os resultados experimentais obtidos permitiram a realização de simulações por MEF para verificação dos modos de guiamento da luz gerados pelo perfil de esforços induzidos termicamente no processo de deposição do filme magnetostrictivo sobre substrato de B12GeO4 (BGO). Foi modelado e simulado também o efeito da aplicação do campo magnético sobre o guia óptico obtido inicialmente pelo efeito de esforço térmico. No resultado das simulações foi possível verificar as alterações do índice de refração efetivo e da intensidade óptica do modo guiado em função de campos magnéticos aplicados ao modulador. Ao final do trabalho realizaram-se a fabricação de alguns protótipos. Os resultados das caracterizações dos moduladores construídos permitirão, no futuro, ajustar os modelos de simulação elaborados. / The doctoral work aims are the development and simulation of an optical modulator based on the effect of magnetostriction for application as magnetometer. The multiphysics simulations were performed using the Finite Elements Method (FEM). In the manufacturing process of optical modulator integrated optics techniques were applied. The originality of the proposal is based on the construction of an integrated optical waveguide covered by a magnetostrictive film to allow the modulation of the guided wave, through the elasto-optical effect, by the application of external magnetic fields. The applied magnetic field causes deformation of the magnetostrictive material that induces a modification of the stress profile produced in substrate. The substrate has its optical properties altered due to the elasto-optical effect, which causes changes in the properties of transmitted light. The work begins with the study and characterization of TbFe and TbCo2 magnetostrictive films deposited by sputtering on silicon substrates. A method for sample preparation and measurement of magnetostriction was established. The magnetostrictive coefficient of the films was determined from the direct measurement of displacements of samples by AFM technique for magnetic fields applied. The experimental results obtained allowed to perform MEF simulations to verify the light guided modes generated by the profile of thermally induced stress created by deposition process of magnetostrictive film on B12GeO4 (BGO) substrate. It was also modeled and simulated the effect of the application of magnetic field on the optical guide obtained initially by the effect of thermal stress. In simulation results, it was possible to verify the changes of effective refractive index and optical intensity of guided modes as functions of magnetic fields applied to the modulator. At the end of the work, some prototypes were fabricated. The results of characterizations of the built modulators will allow, in the future, adjustments in simulation models.

Este trabalho visou o desenvolvimento de sensores de oxigênio dissolvido (OD) utilizando tecnologias de filmes espessos, possibilitando baixo custo de produção, mantendo porém a durabilidade e precisão necessárias para o emprego no monitoramento de águas mananciais. Tal desenvolvimento também incluiu o desenvolvimento de circuitos eletrônicos próprios para o funcionamento completo e autônomo dos sensores. Aplicando-se o princípio de funcionamento do sensor eletroquímico de oxigênio dissolvido baseado na célula de Clark(1956), desenvolveu-se inicialmente esta célula confeccionada em PVC com dimensões tradicionais e, posteriormente, utilizou-se a tecnologia LTCC (Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics) como substrato do sensor em uma microconfiguração planar. Essa inovação permitiu estudar as facilidades de construção com este substrato, várias composições para o eletrólito, espessura das membranas em FEP e PDMS, e o uso das técnicas de medidas tais como polarização contínua, polarização pulsada e voltametria cíclica. Os sensores desenvolvidos foram estudados em condições de monitoramento contínuo e chegaram a alcançar 4 meses de durabilidade utilizando membrana de FEP com deriva de 0,14 % hora-1. Verificou-se através dos ensaios que a configuração da célula eletroquímica de 3 eletrodos estende a durabilidade dos microsensores, pois esta configuração atenua a redução da prata sobre o catodo. Devido a recente regulamentação da detecção óptica do OD pela ASTM, inclui-se neste trabalho o princípio da técnica de medição através da detecção da luminescência. Apresenta-se a implementação de um sistema óptico de detecção utilizando LEDs de alto brilho como fonte de excitação e fotodiodo com filtro de cor embutido para a detecção da intensidade luminescente de um complexo de rutênio (Ru(dpp)) imobilizado em filme sol-gel e em silicone PDMS. O sensor óptico imobilizado em filme sol-gel operando em modo contínuo apresentou a menor deriva (0,03 % hora-1) dentre os microssensores ópticos construídos. A adição de uma fina camada de silicone preto sobre a imobilização sol-gel proporcionou maior durabilidade e imunidade do filme à variação de salinidade da amostra sem prejudicar o tempo de resposta do sensor. / This work aims the development of a dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor using thick film technology, which has low cost of production and keeps sensors durability and precision acceptable for their use in the monitoring of water sources. This development also includes the complete electronic circuits for autonomous monitoring. Using the principles of oxygen electrochemical sensors based on Clark´s cell, this cell is initially built in PVC with traditional dimensions and aftwords build in LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) technology as a substrate for the sensor in a microplanar configuration. This innovation allowed the study of constructive aspects, especially by changing substrate configuration, compositions for the electrolyte, thickness of the FEP or PDMS membrane, and the use of diverse electronic measurement techniques such as continuous polarization, pulsed polarization and cyclic voltammetry. Sensors submitted to continuous monitoring could reach 4 months of duration, using FEP membrane, drifting 0.14 % h-1. A 3 electrodes electrochemical cell configuration can extend the sensor´s life, presenting a low drift for both sensors types, because this new configuration attenuates the reduction of the silver over the cathode. Due to recent regulation of the optical detection of OD by ASTM, this work includes the measurement of DO through the detection of luminescent patterns. Such a system was developed by using high brightness LED´s as excitement sources and special photodiodes embedded with color filters as luminescence intensity detectors . The ruthenium complex (Ru(dpp)) immobilized in a sol-gel film and in PDMS was used as oxygen-sensitive material. The optical sensor immobilized in sol-gel film operating in continuous mode presented the lowest drift (0.03 % h-1) of all built sensors. The addition of a thin layer of black silicone over the sol-gel immobilization provided a greater durability and the immunity of the film and to sample salinity variation, without prejudice to the sensor response time.

Este trabalho visou o desenvolvimento de sensores de oxigênio dissolvido (OD) utilizando tecnologias de filmes espessos, possibilitando baixo custo de produção, mantendo porém a durabilidade e precisão necessárias para o emprego no monitoramento de águas mananciais. Tal desenvolvimento também incluiu o desenvolvimento de circuitos eletrônicos próprios para o funcionamento completo e autônomo dos sensores. Aplicando-se o princípio de funcionamento do sensor eletroquímico de oxigênio dissolvido baseado na célula de Clark(1956), desenvolveu-se inicialmente esta célula confeccionada em PVC com dimensões tradicionais e, posteriormente, utilizou-se a tecnologia LTCC (Low Temperature Cofired Ceramics) como substrato do sensor em uma microconfiguração planar. Essa inovação permitiu estudar as facilidades de construção com este substrato, várias composições para o eletrólito, espessura das membranas em FEP e PDMS, e o uso das técnicas de medidas tais como polarização contínua, polarização pulsada e voltametria cíclica. Os sensores desenvolvidos foram estudados em condições de monitoramento contínuo e chegaram a alcançar 4 meses de durabilidade utilizando membrana de FEP com deriva de 0,14 % hora-1. Verificou-se através dos ensaios que a configuração da célula eletroquímica de 3 eletrodos estende a durabilidade dos microsensores, pois esta configuração atenua a redução da prata sobre o catodo. Devido a recente regulamentação da detecção óptica do OD pela ASTM, inclui-se neste trabalho o princípio da técnica de medição através da detecção da luminescência. Apresenta-se a implementação de um sistema óptico de detecção utilizando LEDs de alto brilho como fonte de excitação e fotodiodo com filtro de cor embutido para a detecção da intensidade luminescente de um complexo de rutênio (Ru(dpp)) imobilizado em filme sol-gel e em silicone PDMS. O sensor óptico imobilizado em filme sol-gel operando em modo contínuo apresentou a menor deriva (0,03 % hora-1) dentre os microssensores ópticos construídos. A adição de uma fina camada de silicone preto sobre a imobilização sol-gel proporcionou maior durabilidade e imunidade do filme à variação de salinidade da amostra sem prejudicar o tempo de resposta do sensor. / This work aims the development of a dissolved oxygen (DO) sensor using thick film technology, which has low cost of production and keeps sensors durability and precision acceptable for their use in the monitoring of water sources. This development also includes the complete electronic circuits for autonomous monitoring. Using the principles of oxygen electrochemical sensors based on Clark´s cell, this cell is initially built in PVC with traditional dimensions and aftwords build in LTCC (Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics) technology as a substrate for the sensor in a microplanar configuration. This innovation allowed the study of constructive aspects, especially by changing substrate configuration, compositions for the electrolyte, thickness of the FEP or PDMS membrane, and the use of diverse electronic measurement techniques such as continuous polarization, pulsed polarization and cyclic voltammetry. Sensors submitted to continuous monitoring could reach 4 months of duration, using FEP membrane, drifting 0.14 % h-1. A 3 electrodes electrochemical cell configuration can extend the sensor´s life, presenting a low drift for both sensors types, because this new configuration attenuates the reduction of the silver over the cathode. Due to recent regulation of the optical detection of OD by ASTM, this work includes the measurement of DO through the detection of luminescent patterns. Such a system was developed by using high brightness LED´s as excitement sources and special photodiodes embedded with color filters as luminescence intensity detectors . The ruthenium complex (Ru(dpp)) immobilized in a sol-gel film and in PDMS was used as oxygen-sensitive material. The optical sensor immobilized in sol-gel film operating in continuous mode presented the lowest drift (0.03 % h-1) of all built sensors. The addition of a thin layer of black silicone over the sol-gel immobilization provided a greater durability and the immunity of the film and to sample salinity variation, without prejudice to the sensor response time.

O trabalho de doutorado teve como objetivo desenvolver um modulador óptico baseado em filme magnetostrictivo para aplicação como magnetômetro. A modelagem e simulação do dispositivo foi realizada utilizando software com cálculo por método dos elementos finitos (MEF) e teve como finalidade auxiliar iterativamente os processos de projeto e fabricação do modulador. A originalidade da proposta baseia-se na construção de um guia de onda em óptica integrada recoberto por um filme magnetostrictivo para permitir a modulação , via efeito elasto-óptico, da onda guiada pela aplicação de campos magnéticos externos. O campo magnético aplicado provoca a deformação o material magnetostrictivo que induz uma modificação no perfil de esforço aplicado ao substrato. O substrato tem suas propriedades ópticas alteradas devido ao efeito elasto-óptico, o que provoca mudanças nas propriedades da luz transmitida. O trabalho tem seu início com o estudo e a caracterização de filmes magnetostrictivos de Tb25F275 e Tb23Co77 depositados por sputtering sobre substratos de silício. Uma técnica para preparação das amostras e medição da magnetostricção foi estabelecida e os coeficientes de magnetostrição dos filmes foram determinados a partir das medições diretas dos deslocamentos das amostras, em função dos campos magnéticos aplicados, utilizando a técnica de Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Os resultados experimentais obtidos permitiram a realização de simulações por MEF para verificação dos modos de guiamento da luz gerados pelo perfil de esforços induzidos termicamente no processo de deposição do filme magnetostrictivo sobre substrato de B12GeO4 (BGO). Foi modelado e simulado também o efeito da aplicação do campo magnético sobre o guia óptico obtido inicialmente pelo efeito de esforço térmico. No resultado das simulações foi possível verificar as alterações do índice de refração efetivo e da intensidade óptica do modo guiado em função de campos magnéticos aplicados ao modulador. Ao final do trabalho realizaram-se a fabricação de alguns protótipos. Os resultados das caracterizações dos moduladores construídos permitirão, no futuro, ajustar os modelos de simulação elaborados. / The doctoral work aims are the development and simulation of an optical modulator based on the effect of magnetostriction for application as magnetometer. The multiphysics simulations were performed using the Finite Elements Method (FEM). In the manufacturing process of optical modulator integrated optics techniques were applied. The originality of the proposal is based on the construction of an integrated optical waveguide covered by a magnetostrictive film to allow the modulation of the guided wave, through the elasto-optical effect, by the application of external magnetic fields. The applied magnetic field causes deformation of the magnetostrictive material that induces a modification of the stress profile produced in substrate. The substrate has its optical properties altered due to the elasto-optical effect, which causes changes in the properties of transmitted light. The work begins with the study and characterization of TbFe and TbCo2 magnetostrictive films deposited by sputtering on silicon substrates. A method for sample preparation and measurement of magnetostriction was established. The magnetostrictive coefficient of the films was determined from the direct measurement of displacements of samples by AFM technique for magnetic fields applied. The experimental results obtained allowed to perform MEF simulations to verify the light guided modes generated by the profile of thermally induced stress created by deposition process of magnetostrictive film on B12GeO4 (BGO) substrate. It was also modeled and simulated the effect of the application of magnetic field on the optical guide obtained initially by the effect of thermal stress. In simulation results, it was possible to verify the changes of effective refractive index and optical intensity of guided modes as functions of magnetic fields applied to the modulator. At the end of the work, some prototypes were fabricated. The results of characterizations of the built modulators will allow, in the future, adjustments in simulation models.