Methods for Investigating Reinforced Concrete Beams with Fiber-optic Sensors Under Loading by a PGI-500 Hydraulic Press

The results of experimental studies aimed at developing an intelligent system for monitoring the technical condition of building structures using fiber-optic sensors are presented. A standard single-mode optical fiber of type G.652, integrated into the body of a reinforced concrete beam, is used as the sensing element. A method for measuring the additional optical losses arising from structural deformation is proposed and implemented as part of a hardware-software complex. Full-scale tests were carried out on a hydraulic press using lasers of various wavelengths (650, 1310, and 1550 nm). The results revealed a linear relationship between the loss level and the magnitude of the applied load. It was also found that the optical fiber remains operational even after the concrete fractures. The results obtained confirm the promise of the developed approach for creating energy-efficient monitoring systems for largescale and critically important structures in the construction industry