First fully composite bridge in Poland with distributed health monitoring

The innovative DFOS-based monitoring system was applied within the first Polish full composite bridge (composite girders + composite slabs). DFOS strain fibres were installed on the surface in the production hall, and then pre-prepared smart elements were delivered on-site. The system’s design, including the appropriate arrangement of the fibres, allowed us to utilise the idea of both strain sensing with the EpsilonSensor and vertical displacement sensing with the 3DSensor.

DFOS Sensors Installed: Epsilon Sensor and 3DSensor

Project challenges

How to apply non-invasive diagnostics in demanding historic structures?
How to get precise measurement data to detect local damage and imperfection?
How to measure detailed strain profiles over the entire height of the brick masonry wall?

Benefits of using the DFOS monitoring system

Prefabrication of the smart structural element in the production hall
Reliable data for structural assessment from a real zero strain/stress state
Simultaneous measurements of strains and displacements (shape changes)
Thousands of measurements points within a single element for self-diagnostics

Results of using the DFOS monitoring system

The DFOS-based monitoring system was used to verify the bridge’s structural performance during its load tests and during long-term monitoring. Thanks to the negligible costs of the DFOS fibres, there was no need to limit the number of measurement sections. The figure below summarises example strain results obtained during the load tests, confirming very good compliance with other reference and spot techniques.

Technical specifications

50 000 measurement points
100 m of sensing path
10 x DFOS strain sensors
load tests & long-term

Example results

Recomendations (optional)

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John Doe

Project partner

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EpsilonSensor Datasheet

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