APPLICATION OF FIBER BRAGG GRATING IN LOCAL AND REMOTE INFRASTRUCTUREHEALTH MONITORING

Developing uses for emerging fiber optic technology may help to manage the health of smart structures by providing an accurate strain profil e and history of structural members. One specialty fiber optic applica tion is the use of Bragg Gratings, which can measure pointwise the str ain. First, practical application of this technology is reported. Next , the accuracy of Bragg Grated fibers was validated and a method to in stall the delicate fibers in a full size reinforced concrete beam was developed, both in the laboratory and in the field. Finally, remote se nsing of the: sensors through the Internet is explored.