Dynamic distributed strain sensing to assess reinforced concrete behaviour

To investigate the potential of using dynamic distributed fibre optic sensing (DDFOS), a series of slender and deep reinforced concrete beams were tested. The beams were loaded cyclically using combinations of three and four-point bending and then tested to ultimate while DDFOS was used to measure the reinforcement strains. The DDFOS data was used to assess the increase in deflections due to cyclic loading as well as the change from beam action to arching action in some specimens. The strain profiles were able to capture the moment of failure including critical location in terms of peak reinforcement strains.