Using fiber optic systems in monitoring of construction structures: a review

The purpose of this paper is to review the application of various fiber-optic and optical sensor technologies in structural health monitoring (SHM) for detecting and measuring mechanical strains and stresses. As is known, fiber optic sensors have low operating costs and small dimensions compared with traditional sensors based on electrical and thermal effects, therefore, they are gradually becoming one of the most promising areas of development of sensor technologies for monitoring structural systems. This paper presents the basic operating principles of several widely used fiber optic sensor types (e.g., based on the Fabry-Perot interferometer, Bragg diffraction, reflectometry, etc.), and describes the experience of using fiber optic sensors in monitoring various physical parameters and demonstrates the possibilities of using fiber optic sensors in structural systems such as bridges, overpasses, tunnels, buildings, etc. It is shown that two types of sensors have found the greatest application for measuring and detecting mechanical deformations in building structures: sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings, as well as optical reflectometry methods (primarily Brillouin reflectometry). Thus, the specified types of sensors are the most promising and effective in the context of SHM technologies.