X-ray and fiber optic detection of cracks in concrete using adhesive released from hollow glass fibers

This research is an investigation into the use of adhesive liquid core optical fibers for the detection of cracks, their location and volume in opaque and semi-opaque brittle materials. The study combines work based on the concept of internal adhesive delivery from hollow fibers for repair with nondestructive fiber optic analysis of crack locations and volume within the same system. The liquid filled hollow fibers can carry light in the liquid. The cracked fiber which has released liquid projects diffraction patterns from the meniscuses at the ends of the liquid. The size relationship of these patterns allow us to determine the location of the cracks and the amount of liquid lost into the matrix and perhaps relate it to the volume and location of the cracks in the matrix.