Integration and assessment of fibre Bragg grating sensors in an all-fibre reinforced polymer composite road bridge

This paper reports on the integration and assessment of 40 ruggedly protected fibre Bragg grating sensors (FBGs) in an all-glass fibre reinforced polymer composite road bridge. This bridge is reported to be Europe's first all-fibre reinforced composite bridge. A unique feature of this bridge was that it was constructed from pultruded glass fibre composite sections, which were bonded on site. The FBGs were integrated at specified sections during the assembly and bonding phase of the bridge. The primary functions of the fibre optic sensors were to provide: (i) real-time and in situ strain and temperature data from the bridge and (ii) strain data to enable the validation of design codes for the all-composite bridge. Results from laboratory tests and field trials during the proof testing of the bridge are presented. The latter included loading the bridge with a 30 tonne lorry.