ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: A major concern in today’s strategically important civil structures, such as rail bridges, is condition assessment of the existing infrastructures for ever increasing usage demands including increased loading and vehicle speed in addition to damage, aging or environmental deterioration. In this respect, the incorporation of resident, cost effective damage detection and monitoring systems is an important consideration, both to detect and track structural damage that may eventuate as well as to monitor the effectiveness of any subsequent repairs that may be carried out in an efficient and effective manner. The principal objective of this current research is to develop an advanced fibre optic monitoring system that will provide enhanced knowledge of the integrity of large strategic civil engineering structures, such as rail bridges, in order to assess their structural worthiness. Such integrated monitoring systems will also provide a means of evaluating the in-service performance of the structure for enhanced operational use in a safe and predictable condition.
