Composites have added new dimensions to the design and construction of buildings and structures. One of the wider spread composite applications in the construction industry is composite beams or pillars, which can be manufactured through pultrusion processes. These types of construction elements are usually used to withstand the weight of large loads, so their integrity must be guaranteed. Due to optical sensors’ advantages over their electrical counterparts—small sizes, low weight, non-conductive, and immunity to electromagnetic interference—and FBGs having an outstanding position among optical fibre sensors—due to their multiplexation capability and relatively easy monitoring—in this study, we propose the integration of FBG sensors for the observation and analysis of the integrity of structures made with composite beams over time. The validation test results showed the successful embedding integration of FBG-based fibre optical sensors in an FRP pultrusion beam and strain transmission up to 7500 µɛ from the composite test piece to the sensor. Additionally, we were able to anticipate the piece failure by the FBG spectrum deformation.

We embedded optical sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings between each layer of a multidirectional carbon fiber reinforced polymer for monitoring temperature and strain distribution over curing process using both, thermal and microwave heating method.

We monitored the curing temperature and strain of multidirectional carbon-reinforced polymer test pieces cured by oven or microwave radiation heating method through embedded fibre optical sensors based on fibre Bragg gratings.

We successfully embedded optical sensors based on fibre Bragg gratings in a fibre reinforced polymer pultrusion beam for strain monitoring. Tests results showed up to 7500 µstrains transmitted from the test beam to the sensors.