• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.943-957
• /
• 2014

When subjected to fatigue loading, the main failure mode of partially prestressed concrete (PPC) structure is the fatigue fracture of tensile reinforcement. Therefore, monitoring and evaluation of the steel stresses/strains in the structure are essential issues for structural design and healthy assessment. The current study experimentally investigates the possibility of using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors to measure the steel strains in PPC beams in the process of fatigue loading. Six full-scale post-tensioned PPC beams were exposed to fatigue loading. Within the beams, the FBG and resistance strain gauge (RSG) sensors were independently bonded onto the surface of tensile reinforcements. A good agreement was found between the recorded results from the two different sensors. Moreover, FBG sensors show relatively good resistance to fatigue loading compared with RSG sensors, indicating that FBG sensors possess the capability for long-term health monitoring of the tensile reinforcement in PPC structures. Apart from the above findings, it can also be found that during the fatigue loading, there is stress redistribution between prestressed and non-prestressed reinforcements, and the residual strain emerges in the non-prestressed reinforcement. This phenomenon can bring about an increase of the steel stress in the non-prestressed reinforcement.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Railway
• /
• v.9 no.4 s.35
• /
• pp.467-472
• /
• 2006

This paper deals with the applicability of long-gauge deformation fiber optic sensors (FOS) to prestressed concrete structures. A main motivation is the desire to monitor the deflection of the railway bridges without intervenes of the signal intensity fluctuations. A 25 m long, 1.8 m deep PSC girder was fabricated compositely with 22 cm thick reinforced concrete deck. Two pairs of 3 m long-gauge sensors are attached to the prestressed concrete girder with parallel topology. Using the relationship between curvature and vortical deflection and the quadratic regression of curvatures at the discrete point, it is possible to extrapolate the deflection curve of the girder. The estimated deflection based on the developed method is compared with the results using conventional strain gauges and LVDTS. It has been demonstrated that the proposed instrumentation technique is capable of estimating the vertical deflection and neutral axis position of the prestressed concrete girder up to weak nonlinear region.

• Proceedings of the KSR Conference
• /
• 2005.05a
• /
• pp.109-114
• /
• 2005

Fiber optic sensors hold a great potential for structural monitoring due to their stability and durability. This paper deals with the applicability of long-gage deformation fiber optic sensors to prestressed concrete structures. Two sets of 3 m long-gage sensors are attached to the prestressed concrete girder with parallel topology. Using the quadratic regression of measured deformations over the length of sensors it is possible to extrapolate the deflection of the girder. The static response based on the developed method is compared with the results using conventional strain gages and LVDTs.

• Composites Research
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.211-216
• /
• 2012

FBG sensor peaks could be split due to polarization by shear strain, when the fiber optic sensors embedded or attached to the structure. For the fiber optic sensor packages, sensor grating has to be protected from shear strains. Also, pretension has to be applied to the sensor because compressive strain must be measured. Without pretension of sensor, the sensor does not show any change of signal until it is stretched. In order to mesure compressive and tensile strains, two fixing point and prestressed sensor need. In the fixing point, just holding the optical fiber cause slip between core and cladding in the fiber. A Fixation method of prestressed FBG sensors fixed with partially stripped fibers was developed. The sensor package has the prestress controllable fixtures at the fixing points. Prestress to the sensor imposed by controlling the two fixed points with bolts and nuts make it easy to measure compressive strain as well as tensile strain. The fiber optic sensor packages applied to the actual structure and the structural monitoring system using the package can be applied to safety through surveillance.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.463-477
• /
• 2022

In this paper, a hybrid vibration-impedance-based damage monitoring approach is experimentally evaluated for prestressed concrete (PSC) structures with local strand breakage. Firstly, the hybrid monitoring scheme is designed to alert damage occurrence from changes in vibration characteristics and to localize strand breakage from changes in impedance signatures. Secondly, a full-scale PSC anchorage is experimented to measure global vibration responses and local impedance responses under a sequence of simulated strand-breakage events. Finally, the measured data are analyzed using the hybrid monitoring framework. The change of structural condition (i.e., damage extent) induced by the local strand breakage is estimated by changes in a few natural frequencies obtained from a few accelerometers in the structure. The damaged strand is locally identified by tomography analysis of impedance features measured via an array of PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) sensors mounted on the anchorage. Experimental results demonstrate that the strand breakage in the PSC structure can be accurately assessed by using the combined vibration and impedance features.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.715-722
• /
• 2015

The prestressing force has not been managed after construction nevertheless it is one of the importrant factors that maintain the structural safety of PSC girder bridges. The prestressing force is just measured during construction using jacking device and after that, it can not be managed practically. For this reason, this study investigated the measurements of prestress using embedded sensors that can be available now with an ultimate goal to propose smart prestressed girders that can measure the prestress from the birth to the end of service life. 4 types of sensors were installed on the small prestressed girders, and the applicability and the accuracy of those sensors were tested while the prestress was applied to the girders. The results show that a center-hole type loadcell has a tendency to measure a prestressing force higher than a reference value, especially when it is loaded with an eccentricity. a EM sensor shows several advantages that has a good practical accuracy, that can be installed anyplace along the tendons.

• Geomechanics and Engineering
• /
• v.21 no.6
• /
• pp.565-570
• /
• 2020

Large tonnage pile foundation load test system is designed in this paper by using pre-stressed technique to optimize the design of anchor pile reaction beam system, in which project pile can be successfully taken as anchor pile. The test results show that the cracks and excessive deformations of the prestressed anti-force device designed in this study have not occurred, and the prestressed tendons of the anchor pile ensure that the anchor pile will not be pulled and fractured, and the prestressed tendons can be reused, thus ensuring the safety and reliability of the test. This test method can directly test bearing capacity of long rock-socketed piles, and analysis bearing behaviors from test results of sensors which embedded in the pile. Through test studied, authors summarized the vertical bearing characteristics of long rock-socketed piles and the main problems that should be paid attention to during design and construction, and provided reliable solutions.

• Smart Structures and Systems
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.761-777
• /
• 2021

This study presents a numerical investigation on the sensitivity of electromechanical (EM) impedance responses to inner damaged concrete of a prestressed anchorage zone. Firstly, the Ottosen yield criterion is selected to simulate the plasticity behavior of the concrete anchorage zone under the compressive loading. Secondly, several overloading cases are selected to analyze inner damage formations in the concrete of the anchorage zone. Using a finite element (FE) model of the anchorage zone, the relationship between applied forces and stresses is analyzed to illustrate inner plasticity regions in concrete induced by the overloading. Thirdly, EM impedance responses of surface-mounted PZT (lead-zirconate-titanate) sensors are numerically acquired before and after concrete damage occurrence in the anchorage zone. The variation of impedance responses is estimated using the RMSD (root-mean-square-deviation) damage metric to quantify the sensitivity of the signals to inner damaged concrete. Lastly, a novel PZT skin, which can measure impedance signatures in predetermined frequency ranges, is designed for the anchorage zone to sensitively monitor the EM impedance signals of the inner damaged concrete. The feasibility of the proposed method is numerically evaluated for a series of damage cases of the anchorage zone. The results reveal that the proposed impedance-based method is promising for monitoring inner damaged concrete in anchorage zones.

• Journal of the Korea Concrete Institute
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.113-122
• /
• 2010

Corrosion of prestressing tendons and wire fractures in grouted post-tensioned prestressed concrete bridges have been considered as a serious safety problem. In bridge evaluation the condition of prestressing tendons should be inspected, and if corroded tendons are found, the loss of tendon area should be included when we calculate the ultimate strength. In the previous study, it was evaluated that continuous acoustic monitoring techniques could be considered as a reliable non-destructive method for detecting wire fractures of fully grouted post-tensioned prestressing tendons. In the present study, an experimental test was performed for detecting wire fractures of post-tensioned prestressing tendons which are prestressed lower than current design level. A 10 m prestressed concrete beam was fabricated, which included two tendons prestressed 66 percentage and 40 percentage of tensile strength, respectively. The corrosion of two tendons was induced by an accelerated corrosion equipment and the test beam was monitored by using seven acoustic sensors and a continuous acoustic monitoring system. From each prestressing tendon, two acoustic signals of wire fractures were successfully detected and source locations were estimated within 20 mm error. Based on the test results, it is considered that continuous acoustic monitoring techniques can be applied to detect low-prestressed wire fracture in fully grouted post-tensioned prestressed concrete beams.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Hazard Mitigation
• /
• v.9 no.6
• /
• pp.11-15
• /
• 2009

Recently, a new PSC (Prestressed Concrete) bridge system, which is supported by Concrete-filled fiber-reinforced polymer (CFFRP) strut, has been introduced. This bridge is able to reduce self-weight and increase the width of traditional PSC bridges. However, no relevant research has been reported on local behavior of CFFRP strut in the bridge system. The purpose of this study is to investigate local behavior of CFFRP struts using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors. Field tests were performed to examine the hoop strains and longitudinal strains of the FRP strut under various lateral positions and velocities of a test truck. It has been observed that CFFRP strut is under compression regardless of vehicle speed and location. However, the CFFRP strut is sensitive to the lateral position of vehicles in terms of strain magnitude. Results also indicated that the FBG sensors can faithfully record the hoop and longitudinal strains of the FRP strut without electro-magnetic interference.