Application of fiber Bragg grating in local and remote infrastructure health monitoring

Developing uses for emerging fiber optic technology may help to manage the health of smart structures by providing an accurate strain profile and history of structural members. One specialty fiber optic application is the use of Bragg Gratings, which can measure pointwise the strain. First, practical application of this technology is reported. Next, the accuracy of Bragg Grated fibers was validated and a method to install the delicate fibers in a full size reinforced concrete beam was developed, both in the laboratory and in the field. Finally, remote sensing of the: sensors through the Internet is explored.