Fiber optics in structural health monitoring

Abstract

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has assumed a significant role in assessing the structures safety and integrity. SHM can be understood as the integration of sensing intelligence and possibly also actuation devices to allow the structure loading and damaging conditions to be recorded, analyzed, localized and predicted in such a way that non-destructive testing becomes an integral part of the structure. SHM sensing requirements are very well suited for fiber optic sensing technology. So in this paper, after a very brief introduction of the basic SHM concepts, the main fiber optic technologies for this application will be reviewed, several examples and the main current technical challenges will be addressed and, finally, the conclusions summarized.