Fiber Optic Sensing Technologies for Bridge Health Monitoring

A Review of Fiber Optic Sensing Technologies for Bridge Health Monitoring

Abstract

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The application of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems in bridge infrastructures has lead to the enhanced safety, durability, reliability and cost-effective management of these structures. In the last two decades, a significant number of innovative sensing technologies based on optical fiber sensors have been applied for SHM due to their inherent distinctive advantages, such as small size, light weight, immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and corrosion, and embedding capability. Fiber optic-based monitoring systems use quasi-distributed and continuously distributed sensing techniques for real time measurement and long term assessment of physical and engineering properties of bridges. This allows for early stage damage detection and characterization, leading to timely remediation and prevention of catastrophic failures. The purpose of this article is to review the current state-of-the-art of fiber optic sensing/monitoring technologies, including the basic principles of various optical fiber sensors, novel sensing and computational methodologies, and the practical application status of this technology for bridge health monitoring. Additionally, application of these technologies to monitor temperature, inclination, stresses, strain measurements, vehicle speeds and weights, and corrosion and cracking of reinforced and prestressed concrete structures of bridges will also be discussed.

1. Introduction

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Bridges play a vital role in advancing nation’s transport infrastructure. Loss of lives and financial losses have been caused by bridge failures (Li, Ou, and Zhou 2009). Bridges deteriorate with age and early detection of damage helps in  timely remediation preventing catastrophic failures. Several bridges built decades ago are now subjected to various load patterns and environmental changes, which can cause localized distress and if not corrected can result in bridge failure. Therfore, structural health monitoring is necessary to ensure bridge safety. SHM refers to the procedure used to assess the condition of structures over a period of time using appropriate sensors to monitor their performance, and measurements yeilded by these sensors can help in early damage detection and risk assessment, thus increasing reliability, safety and efficiency of the structures. 

Recent advancements in fiber optic sensing (FOS) techniques offer unique advantages for i) long-term monitoring, ii) large distances (in the range of several kilometers), and iii) early detection of risks associated with damage of civil infrastructures. One of the distinct advantages of FOS is their ability to measure physical quantities (such as displacements, inclination and strains) continuously distributed over the full length of the fiber. In order to measure distributed strains over the full