Overview of Recent Bridge Monitoring Applications using Distributed Brillouin Fiber Optic Sensors

Brillouin fi ber 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 fi bers. Amortization of relatively expensive data acquisition systems can be facilitated by the discontinuous monitoring of multiple structures. However, the lack of specifi cally developed sensor materials and equipment prevents the advancement of the technology from laboratory testing towards signifi cant practical implementation. This paper presents an overview of recent applications on two small concrete bridges and a fi ve-span, 864-ft long, slab-on-girder bridge in Missouri (USA). The performance of both adhesively bonded bare optical fi bers and a novel composite tape with embedded sensors is discussed. Results provide evidence of the feasibility and effectiveness of Brillouin based fi ber optic sensor monitoring of civil structures.