Distributed fiber optic sensing system for vibration monitoring of 3D printed bridges

The fiber optic sensing technology provides data support in structural health monitoring of the macro facilities, including design, construction, and maintenance of bridges, tunnels, ports and other infrastructures. In this paper, a distributed vibration sensing system is proved to be responsive to a single touch over a 1.8-m-long equivalent fiber segment, covering a vibration frequency from 5 Hz to 25 kHz. The sensing fiber was arranged as an S type layout on the bridge to recognize the standing state, windblown disturbance, and walking vibration. Moreover, the knocking and climbing events are recognized fiber laying spinning lines and hanging on the fences, respectively. The demonstration shows an accurate positioning and sensitive vibration monitoring applied on the automated three-dimensional (3D) printed bridge, which is applicable to all kinds of 3D printed facilities as intelligent sensory neuro-networks.