Performance of pultruded FRP reinforcements with embedded fiber optic sensors

Fiber optic strain sensors are successfully embedded in glass and carbon fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP and CFRP) tendons during pultrusion. The specific application is the use of the smart composite reinforcements for strain monitoring in innovative bridges and structures. To verify the operation of the optic sensors embedded in the smart pultruded rods, mechanical tests were conducted and the output of the fiber optic sensors was compared to that of an extensometer. These mechanical tests were performed at room temperature as well as under conditions of low and high temperature extremes. The reliability assessment of the fiber optic sensors further entailed the study of their fatigue and creep behaviour as well as their performance when the rods in which they are embedded are placed in severe environments (e.g. alkaline solutions) which may simulate conditions encountered in concrete structures wherein the composite rods may be used as prestressing tendons and rebars.