Structural health monitoring by distributed fiber optic sensors embedded into technical textiles
(2012)
Technical textiles with embedded distributed fiber optic sensors have been developed for the purposes of structural health monitoring in geotechnical and civil engineering. The distributed fiber optic sensors are based on Brillouin scattering in silica optical fibers and OTDR in polymer optical fibers. Such 'smart' technical textiles are used for reinforcement of geotechnical and masonry structures. The embedded fiber optic sensors provide online information about the condition of the structure and about the occurrence and location of any damage or degradation.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Technische Textilien mit integrierten faseroptischen Sensoren eröffnen neue Möglichkeiten der Zustandsüberwachung (structural health monitoring) in Geotechnik und Ingenieurbau. Die verteilt messenden Sensoren basieren auf der Brillouin-Streuung in Glasfasern und auf der OTDR in polymeroptischen Fasern. Derartige 'intelligente' technische Textilien werden in erster Line zur Verstärkung von geotechnischen Bauwerken und von Gebäuden genutzt. Die integrierten Sensoren liefern eine zeitnahe Information über den bestimmungsgemäßen Zustand des Bauwerks sowie über die Entstehung und den Ort von lokalen Bauwerksschäden.
Distributed fiber optic sensors embedded in technical textiles for structural health monitoring
(2010)
Technical textiles with embedded distributed fiber optic sensors have been developed for the purposes of structural health monitoring in geotechnical and civil engineering. The distributed fiber optic sensors are based on Brillouin scattering in silica optical fibers and OTDR in polymer optical fibers. Such "smart" technical textiles can be used for reinforcement of geotechnical and masonry structures and the embedded fiber optic sensors can provide information about the condition of the structures and detect the presence of any damages and destructions in real time. Thus, structural health monitoring of critical geotechnical and civil infrastructures can be realized. The paper highlights the results achieved in this innovative field in the framework of several German and European projects.