Smart FRP components for strain- based bridge health monitoring

An innovative DFOS-based monitoring system was implemented in Poland’s first fully composite bridge (featuring composite girders and slabs). Prior to in-situ installation, extensive research on analogous structural components was conducted under laboratory conditions to ensure reliability. DFOS strain fibres were installed on the surface of both the girders and slabs. The system’s design allowed us to utilise the idea of strain sensing by EpsilonSensor and displacement sensing by the 3DSensor.

DFOS Sensors Installed: EpsilonSensor 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

Simultaneous measurements of strains and displacements (shape changes)
Thousands of measurements points within a single element for self-diagnostics
Free and complex shapes of measurement paths for FEA validation
New knowledge on the behaviour of FRP structures (including connections)

Results of using the DFOS monitoring system

The DFOS-based measurement system was used to verify the FRP components’ (girder & slab) structural performance during mechanical load tests. Thanks to the negligible costs of the DFOS fibres, there was no need to limit their number. The figure below summarises example strain results from a sinusoid measurement path, which allowed for the simultaneous analysis of strains over different directions (both longitudinal and transverse).

Technical specifications

24 000 measurement points
240 m of sensing path
24 x DFOS strain sensors
sload tests & long-term

Example results

Recomendations (optional)

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John Doe

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