Steel bridge girder as vertical displacement sensor for shape sensing

The T. Mazowiecki cable-stayed bridge in Rzeszów was put into service in 2015. The bridge is 482 m long, with two traffic lanes in each direction. The structure is supported by a 107 m long A-shaped pylon with 64 cables. In 2018, the bridge was equipped with distributed fibre optic sensors for strain and temperature measurements. One of the main aims was to create the displacement 3DSensor from the steel girder itself along the 150 m long river span.

DFOS Sensors Installed: Optical fibre in acrylate coating

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

Detection of local events, including steel anchorages, welds and ribs
Distinguish between mechanical and thermal strains
Calculation of vertical displacement profile (deflection line)
Creating a smart sensor from the real, full-scale structural element (steel girder)

Results of using the DFOS monitoring system

Distributed fibre optic strain sensors were installed at the bottom and upper part of the steel girder, along a 150 m long river span. All local effects, including perpendicular ribs, welds and anchorages, were clearly detectable in strain profiles. It was also possible to calculate vertical displacements [mm] based on the measured strains and the 3DSensor. Example results are shown in the figures.

Technical specifications

6 000 measurement points
600 m of sensing path
4 x strain sensors
long-term monitoring

Example results

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