ABSTRACT

ABSTRACT: This paper summaries our recent development of smart health monitoring approaches for prestressed concrete (PC) structures based on different distributed sensing techniques. The current distributed sensors are Brillouin scattering-based fiber optic sensors (FOS) and HCFRP (hybrid carbon fiber reinforced polymer) sensors. The HCFRP sensor is a novel type of composite sensor, which consists of three types of carbon tows: high strength (HS), high modulus (HM) and middle modulus (MM) carbon tows. Both types of sensors are characterized by a broad-based and distributed sensing function. The HCFRP sensors are bonded on PC tendon, steel reinforcing bar, and embedded in tensile and compressive concrete sides with epoxy resins and putties. The FOS are embedded in the tensile and compressive concrete sides where the HCFRP sensors are embedded as well. The distributed sensors are arranged to detect the initiation and propagation of cracks, yielding of steel reinforcements and corrosion of PC tendons. The experimental investigations demonstrate that the initiation and location of cracks, yielding of steel reinforcements, corrosion of PC tendons and structural health of PC structures can be effectively detected and monitored with such kinds of distributed sensing systems.