Civionics specifications for fiber optic sensors for structural health monitoring

As the design and construction of civil structures continue to evolve, it is becoming imperative that these structures be monitored for their health. In order to meet this need, the discipline of Civionics has emerged. It involves the application of electronics to civil structures and aims to assist engineers in realizing the full benefits of structural health monitoring (SHM). Therefore, the goal of the specifications outlined in this work is to ensure that correct installation and operation of fiber optic sensors (FOS) are successful. In this presentation, several case studies involving health monitoring of civil structures, such as bridges, will be discussed that motivated the writing of these specifications. The main reason for the failure of FOS based monitoring systems can be traced directly to the installation of the fiber sensor itself. Therefore, by creating a standard procedure for SHM, several ambiguities are eliminated such as fiber sensor specifications and the types of cables required. As a result, these specifications will help ensure that the sensors will survive the installation process and eventually prove their value over years of monitoring the health of the structure. The Civionics FOS specifications include the requirements for fiber sensors, specifically Bragg grating sensors, and their corresponding readout unit. It also includes specifications on the cables, conduits, junction boxes, cable termination and the environmental protection.