Fiber Optic Sensors for Bridge Monitoring

Advances in the production of optical fibers made possible the recent development of innovative sensing systems for the health monitoring of civil structures. The main reasons for this development are the reduced weight and dimensions of fiber optic sensors, the strong immunity to electromagnetic interference, the improved environmental resistance and the scale flexibility for small-gauge and long-gauge measurements. These systems can provide high-resolution and measurement capabilities that are not feasible with conventional technologies. In addition, they can be manufactured at a low cost and they offer a number of key advantages, including the ability to multiplex an appreciable number of sensors along a single fiber and interrogate such systems over large distances. For these reasons, it is evident that fiber optic sensors will change the instrumentation industry in the same way fiber optics has revolutionized communications. This paper provides an overview of the intensity modulated and spectrometric fiber optic sensors and techniques to assess the condition of existing structures in order to enhance the durability of the new bridges, increasing lifetime and reliability and decreasing maintenance activities. Application of these sensors to monitoring strain, temperature, inclination, acceleration, load measurements, ice detection, vehicles speeds and weights, and corrosion and cracking of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures will be described.

[1]  A. Frank,et al.  High strain and high strain gradients measured with fiber Bragg gratings in structural engineering applications , 2002, 2002 15th Optical Fiber Sensors Conference Technical Digest. OFS 2002(Cat. No.02EX533).

[2]  K. Nakamura,et al.  A load cell using an optical fiber Bragg grating with inherent mechanical temperature compensation , 2002, 2002 15th Optical Fiber Sensors Conference Technical Digest. OFS 2002(Cat. No.02EX533).

[3]  Joan R. Casas,et al.  Intelligent Repair of Existing Concrete Structures , 2002 .

[4]  Noah Gale Olson.  Mechanical and optical behavior of a novel optical fiber crack sensor and an interferometric strain sensor , 2002 .

[5]  Konrad Bergmeister,et al.  Global monitoring concepts for bridges , 2001 .

[6]  Cai De.  Distributed optical fiber sensing technology for crack detection in the small scale plaster model test of arch dam , 2001 .

[7]  Hojoon Lee,et al.  New approach to fiber optic weigh-in motion with multiplexed Bragg grating sensors , 2000, International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors.

[8]  Peter Kraemmer.  Novel fiber optic Bragg grating acceleration sensor detection scheme , 2000, International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors.

[9]  P. Ferdinand.  Optical fiber Bragg grating inclinometry for smart civil engineering and public works , 2000, International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors.

[10]  Farhad Ansari,et al.  Embedded fiber optic crack sensor for reinforced concrete structures , 2000 .

[11]  Daniele Inaudi,et al.  Vertical Deflection of a Pre-Stressed Concrete Bridge Obtained Using Deformation Sensors and Inclinometer Measurements , 1998 .

[12]  Eric Udd,et al.  Advanced fiber-grating strain sensor systems for bridges, structures, and highways , 1998, Smart Structures.

[13]  Daniele Inaudi,et al.  Embedded and surface-mounted fiber optic sensors for civil structural monitoring , 1997, Smart Structures.

[14]  Farhad Ansari.  Theory and Applications of Integrated Fiber Optic Sensors in Structures , 1997 .

[15]  Christopher K.Y. Leung,et al.  Micromechanics Based Design of Optical Fiber Crack Sensor , 1996 .

[16]  Masaru Zako,et al.  On Intelligent Structures Using Optical Fiber. I. On Intelligent Structures Using Optical Fiber. Crack Sensing with Optical Fiber. , 1995 .

[17]  F. Ansari,et al.  Kinematics of Crack Formation in Cementitious Composites by Fiber Optics , 1993 .

[18]  Pierre Rossi,et al.  New method for detecting cracks in concrete using fibre optics , 1989 .

[19]  R. Lieberman,et al.  Optical fiber sensors , 1989 .