Fiber Bragg Grating–Differential Settlement Measurement System for Bridge Displacement Monitoring: Case Study
Publication: Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 24, Issue 10
Abstract
Vertical displacements are one of the crucial parameters defining, for example, the load-carrying capacity of a bridge deck in short- and long-term monitoring. Bridge managers are always looking for an easy way to measure vertical displacements of bridges. However, such measurements are difficult to perform. With the advancement of fiber-optic technologies, fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors are more commonly used in structural health monitoring due to their outstanding advantages, including multiplexing capability over long distances as well as high resolution and accuracy. In this study, a set of FBG-differential settlement measurement (DSM) sensors, connected by a hydrostatic leveling system of communicating vessels, and previously adopted for displacement monitoring along a steel member, were used for displacement measurements along a large-scale prestressed concrete I (PCI) beam. Specifically, the PCI beam was subjected to a set of three-point bending tests in the laboratory. The measured displacements matched well with the corresponding experimental values recorded by LVDTs. In addition, in situ experiments on Bridge No. 24 of Highway No. 86 in Taiwan indicated that the FBG-DSM system can be effectively employed to measure vertical displacements along span bridges. In conclusion, the proposed FBG-DSM system can be used for field bridge applications referring to an absolute reference and without any external physical reference or a requirement for accessibility or particular environmental conditions.
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Acknowledgments
Laboratory and in situ testing were conducted by the Bridge Engineering Division of the NCREE and supported by funding from the National Applied Research Laboratories (NCREE-06105C1005). Marco Bonopera acknowledges financial support provided by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (MOST 105-2811-E-492-001). Nerio Tullini acknowledges financial support of the Research Program FAR 2019 provided by the University of Ferrara. Special gratitude is extended to the technicians of the NCREE and students of National Taiwan University, who provided considerable assistance to the authors.
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Published In
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Volume 24 • Issue 10 • October 2019
Copyright
© 2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 27, 2018
Accepted: Apr 19, 2019
Published online: Aug 6, 2019
Published in print: Oct 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Jan 6, 2020
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