The development of a technology that can predict concrete strength by combining optical fiber sensors and AIoT technology is expected to contribute to the prevention of future building collapse accidents.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 24th that it is developing a system using fiber optic sensors capable of measuring tensile force, torsion, and vibration after a building is completed, and is currently manufacturing and testing prototypes for application on construction sites. Commercialization is scheduled for around October of this year.

The technology developed by ETRI is an ‘optical-based multi-array sensor system.’ It is a technology that can continuously monitor the concrete foundation of a building as well as temporary supports and measure the current condition of the building.

This technology can measure the heat of hydration generated during concrete curing.

Therefore, it is possible to predict long-term strength according to concrete curing by considering the concrete mixing ratio, internal temperature, and external environment.

Currently, the research team is building a prototype and test bed to evaluate the system's applicability to construction sites and is monitoring the hydration heat and accumulated temperature of concrete in winter.

Additionally, it was revealed that compressive strength experiments are being conducted to predict the strength of future buildings.

Through this, we plan to additionally implement concrete curing quality and long-term strength prediction algorithms and reflect them in the system.

The research team inserted 1mm-sized optical fibers per unit area of concrete (3m x 3m) and monitored building cracks through sensing.

Sensors in concrete can be used semi-permanently, and for a 31-pyeong apartment, about 20 sensors are required.

Additionally, the intelligent building safety monitoring system developed by the research team is laptop-sized and can easily access data such as temperature, material strain, and vibration measurements collected from optical fiber sensors.

ETRI explained that the core of this technology is ‘optical fiber-based sensing technology.’

Through this, it was explained that it can be expanded to various application technologies such as long-term strength prediction, crack trend monitoring, and external noise measurement.

In the future, the research team plans to further develop artificial intelligence deep learning technology to meet the customized needs of construction companies, such as concrete mixing ratios, thereby increasing the completeness of the technology.

In addition, it is planned to be applied to construction sites to predict the time of formwork removal and to predict concrete deterioration and building lifespan due to concrete aging.all.

ETRI Honam Research Center Director Gil-Haeng Lee said, “We will use ICT to reduce the number of serious accidents that occur every year at construction sites, such as concrete slab collapse when removing formwork, poorly placed concrete, and shortened construction periods, which result in human casualties.”