Abstract
Brillouin fiber optic sensor technology is a promising technology for structural health monitoring (SHM) thanks to its unique feature of distributed strain and temperature measurement by means of low-cost optical fibers. Amortization of relatively expensive data acquisition systems can be facilitated by the discontinuous monitoring of multiple structures. However, the lack of specifically developed sensor materials and equipment prevents the advancement of the technology from laboratory testing towards significant practical implementation. This paper presents an overview of recent applications on two small concrete bridges and a five-span, 864 ft long, slab-on-girder bridge in Missouri (USA). The performance of both adhesively bonded bare optical fibers and a novel composite tape with embedded sensors is discussed. Results provide evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of Brillouin based fiber optic sensor monitoring of civil structures.