Installation and preliminary results from fiber optic sensors embedded in a concrete building

The University of Vermont is in the process of constructing a new major facility to housevarious biotechnology research laboratioes and offices. This five storey, 6000 squaremeter (65000 square foot) concrete structure, named the Stafford Building, has a reinforcedconcrete superstructure. During the construction, a number of optical fiber cables havebeen embedded into the concrete superstructure. They will allow monitoring of stressesincurred during the construction phase and concretr curing as well as vibration sensing andinternal crack detection. The sensors will also permit long term studies of the building'sin-service performance and overall health. A description of the sensor choices, physical