Strain as damage indicator for truss and frame structures

Damage detection techniques are becoming more and more important issues for prolonging the lifetime of the old structures. In the paper the strain measurements on offshore oil platform leg model as well as the preliminary measurement system installed on jack-up rig is presented. During experiments performed on frame model of the platform leg different types of damage scenarios were tested. The Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) strain sensors were capable to detect damage. After laboratory experiments, preliminary FBG system was installed on the real construction (jack-up rig) excited by environmental and operation-induced forces. It is evident that strain measurement based on FBG technology is very promising technique for use in truss/frame structures.