Realization and Testing of Hybrid Textile Reinforced Concrete Prototype Modules Sensorized with Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors

The paper presents the realization and testing of concrete modular prototypes reinforced with textile - steel combination and sensorized with distributed Fiber Optic Sensors (FOS). Proper procedures for fastening and pre-tensioning the sensor to the textile, as well as for protecting the sensor during and after concrete casting, were implemented. Optical Time Domain Reflectometry (OTDR) tests confirmed the healthy status of the optical fibers and related connectors after 14 months of exposure in tunnel environment. One of the prototypes was tested in flexure, investigating the effectiveness of strain monitoring by means of the embedded distributed FOS, interrogated by Brillouin technique with enhanced spatial resolution. The paper discusses the prototypes preparation and the test results, leading to the successful demonstration of the concept of sensorized modular structure, provided with built-in monitoring capability and easily connectable on the field by means of the optical connection of each module to the adjacent one.