Experimental Investigation of a Self-Sensing Hybrid GFRP-Concrete Bridge Superstructure with Embedded FBG Sensors

Abstract

A self-sensing hybrid GFRP-concrete bridge superstructure, which consists of two bridge decks and each bridge deck is comprised of four GFRP box sections combined with a thin layer of concrete in the compression zone, was developed by using eight embedded FBG sensors in the top and bottom flanges of the four GFRP box sections at midspan section of one bridge deck along longitudinal direction, respectively. The proposed self-sensing hybrid bridge superstructure was tested in 4-point loading to investigate its flexural behavior and verify the operation of the embedded FBG sensors. The longitudinal strains of the hybrid bridge superstructure were recorded using the embedded FBG sensors as well as the surface-bonded electric resistance strain gauges. The experimental results indicate that the embedded FBG sensors can faithfully record the longitudinal strains of the hybrid bridge superstructure in tension at bottom flanges and in compression at top flanges of the four GFRP box sections over the entire loading range, as compared with the surface-bonded strain gauges. So, the proposed self-sensing hybrid GFRP-concrete bridge superstructure can reveal its internal strains in serviceability limit state as well as in strength limit state, and it will have wide applications for long-term monitoring in civil engineering.

Reliability Assessment of Wireless Sensor Networks by strain-based Region Analysis for Redundancy Estimation in Measurements on the Example of an Aircraft Wing Box

“…Using sensor networks (SNs) for monitoring large areas of load carrying structures and components is a well-known technology, which is used in various application, like e. g. structural health monitoring (SHM) of bridges [1] and airplane structures [2] or the condition monitoring of wind turbines [3]. In these cases, the sensors of the WSN enable the remote monitoring of damages and to therefore make decisions regarding the remaining useful life or to schedule condition-based maintenance [4].…”

In Situ Strain and Damage Monitoring of GFRP Laminates Incorporating Carbon Nanofibers under Tension

“…Conventional strain sensors, such as active piezoelectric, fiber optical and acoustic emission sensors, have been widely used in structural health monitoring (SHM) [14,15,16]. However, the utilization of these sensors for FRP composites’ monitoring is often limited due to some drawbacks including stress concentrations around the embedded sensors, high cost, poor durability and fragility.…”

Fibre-reinforced polymer strengthening and fibre Bragg grating–based monitoring of reinforced concrete cantilever slabs with insufficient anchorage length of steel bars

“…Many recent studies have explored the combined use of FRP and FBG sensors in civil infrastructure, including FRP-FBG smart sensors (e.g. Corvaglia et al, 2010;Li et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2012), and the monitoring of FRPstrengthened RC structures (e.g. Jiang et al, 2010;Kesavan et al, 2013;Lau et al, 2001;Sundaram et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2009Wang et al, , 2012 or all FRP structures (e.g.…”