A new kind of smart fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)-concrete composite bridge superstructure, which consists of two
bridge decks and each bridge deck is comprised of four FRP 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 FRP box
sections at mid-span section of one bridge deck along longitudinal direction, respectively. The flexural behavior of the
proposed smart composite bridge superstructure was experimentally studied in four-point loading. The longitudinal
strains of the composite bridge superstructure were recorded using the embedded FBG sensors as well as the surfacebonded
electric resistance strain gauges. Test results indicate that the FBG sensors can faithfully record the longitudinal
strain of the composite bridge superstructure in tension at bottom flange of the FRP box sections or in compression at top
flange over the entire loading range, as compared with the surface-bonded strain gauges. The proposed smart FRPconcrete
composite bridge superstructure can monitor its longitudinal strains in serviceability limit state as well as in
strength limit state, and will has wide applications for long-term monitoring in civil engineering.
A new kind of self-sensing fiber reinforced polymer (FRP)-concrete composite beam, which consists of a FRP box beam
combined with a thin layer of concrete in the compression zone, was developed by using two embedded FBG sensors in
the top and bottom flanges of FRP box beam at mid-span section along longitudinal direction, respectively. The flexural
behavior of the proposed self-sensing FRP-concrete composite beam was experimentally studied in four-point bending.
The longitudinal strains of the composite beam were recorded using the embedded FBG sensors as well as the surfacebonded
electric resistance strain gauges. Test results indicate that the FBG sensors can faithfully record the longitudinal
strain of the composite beam in tension at bottom flange of the FRP box beam or in compression at top flange over the
entire load range, as compared with the surface-bonded strain gauges. The proposed self-sensing FRP-concrete
composite beam can monitor its longitudinal strains in serviceability limit state as well as in strength limit state, and will
has wide applications for long-term monitoring in civil engineering.
Fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensor is broadly accepted as a structural health monitoring device for fiber reinforced
polymer (FRP) materials by either embedding into or bonding onto the structures. A new kind of smart FRP-concrete
composite beam was developed by using embedded FBG sensors. Firstly, fabrication process of the smart FRP-concrete
composite beam was introduced. Subsequently, FRP laminates with embedded FBG sensors, which have the same
stacking sequences as that of the smart composite beam, were fabricated and tested on material test system to determine
the strain sensitivity coefficients of the smart composite beams. Finally, the proposed smart FRP-concrete composite
beam was tested in 4-point bending to verify the operation of FBG sensors embedded in the smart beam. The
experimental results indicate the strain sensing property of the laminates with embedding FBG sensors is nearly the same
as that of bare FBG sensor, and the output of embedded FBG sensors in the smart beam agrees well with that of surface-bonded
strain gauges over the entire load range. The proposed smart FRP-concrete composite beam can reveal the true
internal strain of itself in its service life and will have wide applications for long-term monitoring in civil engineering.
Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) has gained much attention in civil engineering due to its high strength-to-weight and
stiffness-to-weight ratios, corrosion resistance and good fatigue resistance. Optical Fiber Bragg Grating (OFBG) is now
widely accepted as smart sensor due to its advantages of electric-magnetic resistance, small size, distributed sensing,
durability, and so on. Combined the FRP with OFBG, new kind of smart FRP-OFBG composite laminates was
developed. Fabrication method of the smart composite laminates was introduced in this paper. The study presented the
basic principle of OFBG sensors. Then the strain and temperature sensing properties of the proposed smart FRP-OFBG
composite laminates were experimentally studied on material test system and under hot water, respectively. The
experimental results indicate the strain sensing properties of the smart FRP-OFBG composite laminates are nearly the
same as that of bare OFBG, however, the temperature sensing abilities of the smart FRP-OFBG composite laminates are
improved and the sensitivity coefficient is nearly 3.2 times as much as that of bare OFBG. The strain and temperature
sensing precisions of the smart FRP-OFBG composite laminates are 1 &mgr;&Vegr; and 0.03 °C, respectively. The smart FRYOFBG
composite laminates are very proper for application in civil engineering.
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