# Research on Real-Time Monitoring of Strain Behavior of Concrete under Freezing-Thawing Cycle by White Light Interferometer

Authors: Haifeng Lv; Xianglong Kong; Jie Ren; Xuefeng Zhao; Changsen Sun
Journal: Advances in Materials Science and Engineering
 (2022)

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## Abstract

To study the degenerative process of concrete subjected to freezing-thawing (F-T) cycles in real-time, the strain behavior of concrete cylinder was monitored by a fiber optic F-T testing method based on the white light interferometer (WLI) technique. The principle of the WLI technique was described in detail and the design of the fiber optic testing method. Two mixed proportions of concrete immersed in 3.5% NaCl solution were tested in a freeze-thaw testing machine. The theory and method of temperature compensation were stated in detail. The results indicated that the variation of strain decreases in the cooling stage and increases in the heating stage in a F-T cycle. The residual strain was generated in the test.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

In cold regions, F-T cycling is one of the main reasons for degradation of concrete materials because of the pore water. The change of dimensional and internal stress will be caused during the F-T cycles, which can result in degeneration and failure of concrete structures [1, 2].Nowadays, the loss of weight and relative dynamic modulus of elasticity are the most popularly used to evaluate the F-T resistance of concrete [3–5]. Other indicators are also used to evaluate the degradation of concrete subjected to F-T cycles, such as dimensional change [6] and strength [7, 8]. However, these indicators differ in the testing methods and evaluation criteria. In addition, the workload is hefty, and the artificial factor has a significant effect on the results. With the development of technology, many image processing techniques have been used to study material damage, such as the digital image processing (DIP) technique [9, 10], X-ray computed tomography [11], high speed-camera [12], ultrasonic imaging [13], scanning electron microscopy (SEM) [14], and magnetic resonance imaging [15, 16]. Besides, the nondestructive testing methods are also introduced to assess degeneration of materials, which are the fundamental transverse frequencies [17]and acoustic emission [18, 19]. However, none of these methods could achieve real-time monitoring the damage evolution of concrete during freezing-thawing cycles.Study of the degenerative process of concrete in real-time during F-T cycles is very important, which could make the degenerative process intuitive and make it possible to give an alarm value according to the degenerative process in time. In order to study the degeneration of concrete in real-time during the process of F-T cycles, some researchers have studied it in different technical methods and analytical perspectives. Ranz [20] and Cao [21] studied the degeneration of concrete during the F-T cycles with ultrasonic transducers and electrical resistivity measurement methods. Bishnoi [22] embedded the strain gauges in concrete to measure the inner strain, and the results demonstrated that the inner strain increases with the progress of deterioration.Under the action of a freezing-thawing cycle, microcracks will occur inside the material, which will inevitably lead to volume change [23, 24]. The strain of concrete will occur during the process of F-T cycles, which is a very important feedback signal, and it could give a holistic perspective to study the inner damage of concrete and make it possible to quantify the damage of concrete.In this study, based on the WLI technology, a real-time monitoring method was proposed, and the strain behavior of concrete cylinder was monitored during the F-T cycles. Concrete specimens with 0.55 and 0.35 water-cement ratios (W/C), which were immersed in 3.5% NaCl solution, were tested in a temperature chamber to simulate the F-T environment and chloride salt attack. The theory and method of temperature compensation were stated in detail, and the strain behavior of T-specimen was monitored and studied during the F-T cycles. Besides, the mechanism of F-T degeneration was also analyzed from the perspective of strain.


## 2. The Principal of WLI

A diagram of the WLI sensing technique is shown in Figure1. The system comprises a superluminescent emitting diode (SLED), a 3 dB fiber optic coupler, which is used to separate and recombine the light, a photoelectric detector (PD), which is used to detect the white light interference fingers, reference fiber, and sensing fiber. The light emitted from the SLED is divided into two beams after passing the fiber optic coupler when the system is working and going into the reference fiber and sensing fiber, respectively. One beam light arrives at the PD after going through the reference fiber and being reflected by the reflector. The other beam light also arrives at the PD after going through the sensing fiber and being reflected by a scanning mirror. When the optical paths of the two beams are equal, white light interference fringes will be shown in the PD, as shown in Figure 2, where the position (X0) will be recorded as a calibrated position. This procedure can be repeated for locating the new fringe (X1) when the length of the sensing fiber (l0) changes. Therefore, the length of the reference fiber will be recalculated by confirming the position of the scanning mirror, and the change of length for the sensing fiber will be obtained. The following equation can be established [25]:(1)Δl=X1−X0•LNn,ε=Δll0,where ε is the strain, LN is 1.25 μm, n is the effective refractive index of the sensing fiber, Δl is the absolute deformation, and l0 is the length of the sensing arm.Figure 1
Typical experimental setup of the WLI sensing technique.Figure 2
White light interference fringe.The sensitivity of this sensing method depends on the length of the sensing fiber, and the longer the sensing fiber is, the more sensitive it is and the higher the resolution is [26]. However, the highest resolution of the system is limited by the resolution of the scanning mirror. This method is designed in an interferometer configuration, and its readout result is equivalent to the calibration by an optical grating. The optical grating of the instrument of WLI used in this study is a standard ruler with accuracy in two micrometers.


## 3. Experimental Methodology

### 3.1. Specimen Preparation

The concrete specimens were in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 150 mm. River sand (0–5 mm) was regarded as the fine aggregate, and crushed limestone (5–20 mm) was used as coarse aggregate. The materials were mixed in a rotating drum laboratory mixer following ASTM C192-06 [27]. After 24 hours of casting, the cylinders were cured in such an environment, where the temperature is 20 ± 3°C, and relative humidity is 95% for 28 days. The mixed proportions of concrete and compressive strength on the 28th day are given in Table 1.Table 1
Mix proportion of concrete and compressive strength.
W/CWater (kg/m3)Cement (kg/m3)Fine aggregate (kg/m3)Coarse aggregate (kg/m3)Compressive strength (MPa)0.55195355663117843.20.35195557531112855.2After 28 days of curing, enwound a 7 m bare optical fiber in the middle of the cylinder with 1 m portions left at both ends; thus, the measuring optical fiber was 5 m. The ends of the fiber were fixed with epoxy glue and protected with plastic casing as guided fiber. The enwound fiber was coated with epoxy, whose working temperature ranges from –60 to150 °C. The thickness of the epoxy layer was about 1 mm, and it provides physical protection for the enwinding fiber. The structural sketch and photo of the testing specimens are shown in Figure3.Figure 3
Structural sketch and photo of the testing specimens.In order to eliminate the temperature effect on the strain measurement, temperature compensation specimens (T-specimen) were also fabricated. The concrete cylinders which were used to fabricate T-specimens were dried in the oven in the condition of 40°C for four days, and then, it was necessary to repeat the fabricating process as mentioned above. After this process, seal it with plastic and put it into a rubber bucket to prevent it from absorbing moisture in the air during the experiment.


### 3.2. Construction of the F-T Monitoring System

The system comprises a sensing unit and a reference unit. The sensing unit is used to monitor the strain and the reference unit as the reference fiber and the data acquisition instrument. The monitoring system is shown in Figure4. In the sensing unit, each specimen requires two couplers with split ratios of 90%/10% and 50%/50%, which can be purchased in the markets. The coupler contains the output and input ports. The WLI instrument is connected with the input point of 10%/90% coupler, and the two guided optical fibers are both linked to output ports. There are four specimens (two testing specimens and two T-specimens) in the sensing unit, which share the reference unit.Figure 4
The diagram of the F-T monitoring system.In the testing program, the sensing unit was placed in the concrete F-T tester, and it was immersed in the solution of 3.5% NaCl, as shown in Figure5. The solution was poured into the rubber bucket, and the surface of the solution was 50 mm higher than the cylinder. The accelerated F-T testing program was conducted according to the standard for tent methods for rapid freezing and thawing [28]. Before starting the test, all the specimens were immersed for 4 days. The changes in temperature are shown in Figure 6. The T-specimens were placed close to the testing specimens, and no solution was poured into the rubber bucket. During every 10 cycles, the strain was monitored by the WLI analytical instrument every 5 minutes, which was used to study the strain behavior during the F-T cycles.Figure 5
Schematic of the cylinder setting.Figure 6
Accelerate F-T cycle.


## 3.1. Specimen Preparation

The concrete specimens were in the form of a cylinder with a diameter of 100 mm and a height of 150 mm. River sand (0–5 mm) was regarded as the fine aggregate, and crushed limestone (5–20 mm) was used as coarse aggregate. The materials were mixed in a rotating drum laboratory mixer following ASTM C192-06 [27]. After 24 hours of casting, the cylinders were cured in such an environment, where the temperature is 20 ± 3°C, and relative humidity is 95% for 28 days. The mixed proportions of concrete and compressive strength on the 28th day are given in Table 1.Table 1
Mix proportion of concrete and compressive strength.
W/CWater (kg/m3)Cement (kg/m3)Fine aggregate (kg/m3)Coarse aggregate (kg/m3)Compressive strength (MPa)0.55195355663117843.20.35195557531112855.2After 28 days of curing, enwound a 7 m bare optical fiber in the middle of the cylinder with 1 m portions left at both ends; thus, the measuring optical fiber was 5 m. The ends of the fiber were fixed with epoxy glue and protected with plastic casing as guided fiber. The enwound fiber was coated with epoxy, whose working temperature ranges from –60 to150 °C. The thickness of the epoxy layer was about 1 mm, and it provides physical protection for the enwinding fiber. The structural sketch and photo of the testing specimens are shown in Figure3.Figure 3
Structural sketch and photo of the testing specimens.In order to eliminate the temperature effect on the strain measurement, temperature compensation specimens (T-specimen) were also fabricated. The concrete cylinders which were used to fabricate T-specimens were dried in the oven in the condition of 40°C for four days, and then, it was necessary to repeat the fabricating process as mentioned above. After this process, seal it with plastic and put it into a rubber bucket to prevent it from absorbing moisture in the air during the experiment.


## 3.2. Construction of the F-T Monitoring System

The system comprises a sensing unit and a reference unit. The sensing unit is used to monitor the strain and the reference unit as the reference fiber and the data acquisition instrument. The monitoring system is shown in Figure4. In the sensing unit, each specimen requires two couplers with split ratios of 90%/10% and 50%/50%, which can be purchased in the markets. The coupler contains the output and input ports. The WLI instrument is connected with the input point of 10%/90% coupler, and the two guided optical fibers are both linked to output ports. There are four specimens (two testing specimens and two T-specimens) in the sensing unit, which share the reference unit.Figure 4
The diagram of the F-T monitoring system.In the testing program, the sensing unit was placed in the concrete F-T tester, and it was immersed in the solution of 3.5% NaCl, as shown in Figure5. The solution was poured into the rubber bucket, and the surface of the solution was 50 mm higher than the cylinder. The accelerated F-T testing program was conducted according to the standard for tent methods for rapid freezing and thawing [28]. Before starting the test, all the specimens were immersed for 4 days. The changes in temperature are shown in Figure 6. The T-specimens were placed close to the testing specimens, and no solution was poured into the rubber bucket. During every 10 cycles, the strain was monitored by the WLI analytical instrument every 5 minutes, which was used to study the strain behavior during the F-T cycles.Figure 5
Schematic of the cylinder setting.Figure 6
Accelerate F-T cycle.


## 4. Experimental Results

### 4.1. The Strain Behavior of T-Specimen

Optical fiber sensing technology is sensitive to temperature. Therefore, a reasonable temperature compensation method must be proposed. For this purpose, the strain behavior of the dry specimen (T-specimen) was measured and studied. The strain behavior of two different mixes T-specimens (dry specimen) for 10 F-T cycles is shown in Figure7.Figure 7
The strain behaviors of T-specimens.As Figure7 shows, the strain decreases with the decreasing temperature in the cooling stage and increases with the rising temperature in the heating stage. After one cycle, the level of strain returned to the initial state. The behavior of the strains shows good repeatability during the 10 F-T cycles. This is because the T-specimens are dry, and the strain behaviors monitored by WLI are caused by the effect of linear expansion of the materials (concrete and optical fiber), which depends on the temperature change [29]. Therefore, eliminating the strain of T-specimen is a reasonable temperature compensation method in this test. It also can be seen that the range of strain of T-0.55 (the T-specimen of W/C = 0.55) is larger than that of T-0.35 (the T-specimen of W/C = 0.35), this is because T-0.55 and T-0.35 have different W/C ratios, which have different coefficients of thermal expansion [30, 31].


### 4.2. The Method of Temperature Compensation

During the process of concrete material subjected to F-T cycles, the total strain (ε) is composed of three components:(2)ε=εE+εTM+εTO.In equation (3), εE is the freezing expansion strain, which is caused by the volume expansion of water when it turns into ice. ΕTM is the thermal expansion strain of the concrete material, which is caused by changes in temperature. ΕTO is the strain of optical fiber caused by the temperature. In order to eliminate the strains εTM and εTO, a dry concrete cylinder was fabricated as described in the preceding part of the text. The strain (εT-specimen) which monitored from the T-specimen is the sum of εTM and εTO. Therefore, the strain εE is shown as the following equation:(3)εE=ε−εT−specimen.In this experiment, the total strainε is measured from the saturated specimen. The strain behavior for the two mixes before and after eliminating the εT-specimen during the 10 cycles is shown in Figure 8. After removing the strain εT-specimen, strain εE is increased in the cooing stage and decreased in the temperature rising stage. This phenomenon will be explained in the following part.Figure 8
Strain behaviors before and after temperature compensation. (a) W/C = 0.55. (b) W/C = 0.35.
(a)(b)


### 4.3. The Expansion Strain (εE) Behavior during the F-T Cycles

In this test, the strain (freezing expansion strainεE) is monitored during every 10 F-T cycles in real-time. There are no test data of the 71–80 cycles because the WLI instrument was broken down during the cycles.Figure9(a) (W/C = 0.55) and Figure 9(b) (W/C = 0.35) show the behaviors of the strain from the start to the end during every 10 F-T cycles. In the first 20 F-T cycles, the residual strain has no obvious increase (early stage), as shown in Figure 9(a). This phenomenon is in the early stage of F-T cycles because the unfrozen water is transported into empty of partially filled pores by thermodynamic imbalance [28], and there are no microcracks or few microcracks produced in the matrix. After this period, residual strain increases with the F-T cycles, which means the damage was induced in the matrix. The changing tendency of the residual shown in Figure 9(b) is similar to Figure 9(a). However, the early stage is more varied than that shown in Figure 9(a). This is because W/C 0.35 is lower than 0.55. Concrete with lower W/C has a more compact matrix. Therefore, the concrete matrix with different mixing ratios has different early stages when it is subjected to freeze-thaw. The lower W/C is, the longer the early stage lasts, which can prolong the damage occurrence caused by F-T cycles.Figure 9
Strains from the start to the end during every 10 F-T cycles. (a) W/C = 0.55. (b) W/C = 0.35.
(a)(b)In the whole process of the experiment, the behavior of residual strain shown in Figures9(a) and 9(b) have the same tendency to change, which is the residual strain increased from the start to the end in every 10 F-T cycles. As the number of F-T cycles increases, more water will be absorbed because of the existence of microcracks, which will induce more cracks in the matrix, resulting in a larger residual strain. Therefore, the growing trend of residual strain during every 10 F-T cycles is increased with the F-T cycles, which demonstrates that the rate of damage in concrete increases with the F-T cycles.In order to quantify the residual strain generated in the whole cycle, the behavior of stain from the start to the end of the whole test was calculated. At the beginning of the first F-T cycle, the strain was regarded as the initial strain. Thereafter, the strain was monitored during the F-T process subtracted the initial strain. Therefore, the residual strain at the end of any cycle is the accumulation of the previous cycles, as shown in Figures10(a) and 10(b). After t100 F-T cycles, the residual strain of 0.55 specimen is 2880 με, and the residual strain of 0.35 specimen is 1027 με, which demonstrates that lower W/C has higher resistance.Figure 10
Strains from the start to the end of the whole F-T test. (a) W/C = 0.55. (b) W/C = 0.35.
(a)(b)The residual strain increased with F-T cycles, which means that the damage evolution is accumulating cycle by cycle. In addition, the residual strain increases more significantly after certain cycles, which means more damages occur, such as the expansion of microcracks and increasing the diameter of the capillary. According to the value of residual strain, the inner degeneration of the concrete matrix caused by F-T cycles can be quantified.


## 4.1. The Strain Behavior of T-Specimen

Optical fiber sensing technology is sensitive to temperature. Therefore, a reasonable temperature compensation method must be proposed. For this purpose, the strain behavior of the dry specimen (T-specimen) was measured and studied. The strain behavior of two different mixes T-specimens (dry specimen) for 10 F-T cycles is shown in Figure7.Figure 7
The strain behaviors of T-specimens.As Figure7 shows, the strain decreases with the decreasing temperature in the cooling stage and increases with the rising temperature in the heating stage. After one cycle, the level of strain returned to the initial state. The behavior of the strains shows good repeatability during the 10 F-T cycles. This is because the T-specimens are dry, and the strain behaviors monitored by WLI are caused by the effect of linear expansion of the materials (concrete and optical fiber), which depends on the temperature change [29]. Therefore, eliminating the strain of T-specimen is a reasonable temperature compensation method in this test. It also can be seen that the range of strain of T-0.55 (the T-specimen of W/C = 0.55) is larger than that of T-0.35 (the T-specimen of W/C = 0.35), this is because T-0.55 and T-0.35 have different W/C ratios, which have different coefficients of thermal expansion [30, 31].


## 4.2. The Method of Temperature Compensation

During the process of concrete material subjected to F-T cycles, the total strain (ε) is composed of three components:(2)ε=εE+εTM+εTO.In equation (3), εE is the freezing expansion strain, which is caused by the volume expansion of water when it turns into ice. ΕTM is the thermal expansion strain of the concrete material, which is caused by changes in temperature. ΕTO is the strain of optical fiber caused by the temperature. In order to eliminate the strains εTM and εTO, a dry concrete cylinder was fabricated as described in the preceding part of the text. The strain (εT-specimen) which monitored from the T-specimen is the sum of εTM and εTO. Therefore, the strain εE is shown as the following equation:(3)εE=ε−εT−specimen.In this experiment, the total strainε is measured from the saturated specimen. The strain behavior for the two mixes before and after eliminating the εT-specimen during the 10 cycles is shown in Figure 8. After removing the strain εT-specimen, strain εE is increased in the cooing stage and decreased in the temperature rising stage. This phenomenon will be explained in the following part.Figure 8
Strain behaviors before and after temperature compensation. (a) W/C = 0.55. (b) W/C = 0.35.
(a)(b)


## 4.3. The Expansion Strain (εE) Behavior during the F-T Cycles

In this test, the strain (freezing expansion strainεE) is monitored during every 10 F-T cycles in real-time. There are no test data of the 71–80 cycles because the WLI instrument was broken down during the cycles.Figure9(a) (W/C = 0.55) and Figure 9(b) (W/C = 0.35) show the behaviors of the strain from the start to the end during every 10 F-T cycles. In the first 20 F-T cycles, the residual strain has no obvious increase (early stage), as shown in Figure 9(a). This phenomenon is in the early stage of F-T cycles because the unfrozen water is transported into empty of partially filled pores by thermodynamic imbalance [28], and there are no microcracks or few microcracks produced in the matrix. After this period, residual strain increases with the F-T cycles, which means the damage was induced in the matrix. The changing tendency of the residual shown in Figure 9(b) is similar to Figure 9(a). However, the early stage is more varied than that shown in Figure 9(a). This is because W/C 0.35 is lower than 0.55. Concrete with lower W/C has a more compact matrix. Therefore, the concrete matrix with different mixing ratios has different early stages when it is subjected to freeze-thaw. The lower W/C is, the longer the early stage lasts, which can prolong the damage occurrence caused by F-T cycles.Figure 9
Strains from the start to the end during every 10 F-T cycles. (a) W/C = 0.55. (b) W/C = 0.35.
(a)(b)In the whole process of the experiment, the behavior of residual strain shown in Figures9(a) and 9(b) have the same tendency to change, which is the residual strain increased from the start to the end in every 10 F-T cycles. As the number of F-T cycles increases, more water will be absorbed because of the existence of microcracks, which will induce more cracks in the matrix, resulting in a larger residual strain. Therefore, the growing trend of residual strain during every 10 F-T cycles is increased with the F-T cycles, which demonstrates that the rate of damage in concrete increases with the F-T cycles.In order to quantify the residual strain generated in the whole cycle, the behavior of stain from the start to the end of the whole test was calculated. At the beginning of the first F-T cycle, the strain was regarded as the initial strain. Thereafter, the strain was monitored during the F-T process subtracted the initial strain. Therefore, the residual strain at the end of any cycle is the accumulation of the previous cycles, as shown in Figures10(a) and 10(b). After t100 F-T cycles, the residual strain of 0.55 specimen is 2880 με, and the residual strain of 0.35 specimen is 1027 με, which demonstrates that lower W/C has higher resistance.Figure 10
Strains from the start to the end of the whole F-T test. (a) W/C = 0.55. (b) W/C = 0.35.
(a)(b)The residual strain increased with F-T cycles, which means that the damage evolution is accumulating cycle by cycle. In addition, the residual strain increases more significantly after certain cycles, which means more damages occur, such as the expansion of microcracks and increasing the diameter of the capillary. According to the value of residual strain, the inner degeneration of the concrete matrix caused by F-T cycles can be quantified.


## 5. Conclusions

In this study, the strain behavior of concrete subjected to F-T cycles was monitored in real-time and studied. Based on the WLI technique, a fiber optic F-T testing method was proposed, designed, and tested. The results demonstrate that strain will be induced when the concrete cylinder is subjected to F-T cycles, and the method can monitor the changing behavior of strain in real-time. Residual strain is induced subjected to F-T cycles.When cylinders are subjected to the same F-T cycles, the strain of W/C = 0.35 is lower than W/C = 0.55, which demonstrates that reducing the W/C ratio can reduce the development of strain. In addition, a lower W/C ratio has a longer early stage, which prolongs the microcracks produced in the matrix. The residual strain is increased with F-T cycles, which means that the damage evolution involved damage accumulated gradually cycle by cycle, indicating it can quantify the inner damage after certain F-T cycles from the perspective of residual strain.



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