Abstract
A research effort has been launched at the University of Trento, aimed at developing an innovative distributed construction system based on smart prefabricated concrete elements allowing for real-time condition assessment of civil infrastructures. So far, two reduced-scale prototypes have been produced, each consisting of a 0.2u0.3u5.6 m RC beam specifically designed for permanent instrumentation with 8 long-gauge Fiber Optics Sensors (FOS) at the lower edge. The sensors employed are FBG-based and can measure finite displacements both in statics and dynamics. The acquisition module uses a single commercial interrogation unit and a software-controlled optical switch, allowing acquisition of dynamic multi-channel signals from FBG-FOS, with a sample frequency of 625 Hz per channel. The performance of the system is undergoing validation in the laboratory. The scope of the experiment is to correlate changes in the dynamic response of the beams with different damage scenarios, using a direct modal strain approach. Each specimen is dynamically characterized in the undamaged state and in different condition states, simulating different cracking levels. The location and the extent of damage are evaluated through the calculation of damage indices which take into account changes in frequency and in strain-mode-shapes. This paper is a detailed description of the experimental work conducted on one of these prototypes and shows how the damage distribution detected by the system is fully compatible with the damage extent appraised by inspection.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | AESE 2005 - Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Advances in Experimental Stuctural Engineering |
| Pages | 717-724 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Volume | 2005-July |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 4901887181, 9784901887182 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2005 |
| Event | 1st International Conference on Advances in Experimental Stuctural Engineering, AESE 2005 - Nagoya, Japan Duration: 19 Jul 2005 → 21 Jul 2005 |
Conference
| Conference | 1st International Conference on Advances in Experimental Stuctural Engineering, AESE 2005 |
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| Country/Territory | Japan |
| City | Nagoya |
| Period | 19/07/05 → 21/07/05 |
Funding
This research has been carried out with the financial support of the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR). Most of the experimental and analysis work presented in this paper was materially carried out by Matteo Pozzi and Marco Forti, which the authors gratefully acknowledge. The authors also wish to thank Michele Corrà, Luca Santorum, Torsten Thiel and the AOS team for their contribution.
Keywords
- smart-beam system
- evaluation
- beams and girders
- Fiber Bragg gratings
- civil infrastructures