Real-Time Monitoring of Cement Paste Carbonation with In Situ Optical Fiber Sensors

Reinforced concrete structures are prevalent in infrastructure and of significant economic social importance to humanity. However, they prone decay from cement paste carbonation. pH sensors have been developed monitor carbonation, but their adoption by the industry remains limited. This work introduces two new methods for monitoring carbonation real time that validated through accelerated samples. Both configurations depart traditional monitoring. In first configuration, depth a sample is measured using CO2 optical fiber sensors. One sensor positioned on surface sample, while other embedded middle. As progresses reaches sensor, combined response changes. second multimode within paste, its monitored observing increase reflected light intensity (1.6–18%) resulting formation CaCO3. Its applicability naturally occurring tested at concentrations 3.2% CO2, influence water positively evaluated; thus, this setup suitable real-world testing applications.