Strain monitoring of railway bridges using optic fiber sensors

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to suggest that Fraby‐Perot optic sensor is a practical measurement gage to monitor the strain of great structures such as railway bridges.

Design/methodology/approach

A remote strain monitoring system based on F‐P optic fiber and virtual instrument is designed to monitor the strains of a railway bridge.

Findings

The application results show that the Fraby‐Perot optical fiber sensors can accurately measure strain and they are suitable for the long‐term and automatic monitoring. In addition, the system has several advantages over conventional structural instruments including fast response, ability of both static and dynamic monitoring, absolute measurement, immunity to interferences such as lightning strikes, electromagnetic noise and radio frequency, low attenuation of light signals in long fiber optic cables.

Practical implications

Health monitoring of structures is getting more and more recognition all over the world because it can minimize the cost of reparation and maintenance and ensure the safety of structures. A strain monitoring system based on F‐P optic fiber sensor was developed according to the health monitoring requirements of Wuhu Yangtze River Railway Bridge, which is the first cable‐stayed bridge with a maximum span of 312 m carrying both railway and highway traffic in China. It has run stably in the monitoring field more than two years and fulfilled the monitoring requirement very well. Now the system has been transplanted successfully to the Zhengzhou Yellow Railway Bridge for strain monitoring. So the work can be referenced by other similar health monitoring projects.

Originality/value

Long‐term, real‐time monitoring of strain using FP fiber optic sensors in railway bridge is an innovation. A remote strain data acquisition and real‐time processing are another character of the system. The work studied can be referenced by other structures monitoring, such as tunnel, concrete bridges, concrete and earth dams.

Citation

Zhan‐feng, G., Yan‐liang, D., Bao‐chen, S. and Xiu‐mei, J. (2007), "Strain monitoring of railway bridges using optic fiber sensors", Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering, Vol. 13 No. 2, pp. 186-197. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552510710753087