Strain measurements of airport concrete pavement utilizing distributed fiber-optic sensors

This paper investigates the feasibility of using distributed fiber optic sensors for the monitoring of the deformation of airport concrete pavements using a simple post-construction installation method. A targeted loading device with known characteristics was employed to generate structural responses. The results demonstrate that post-installed fiber-optic sensors can successfully collect meaningful strain measurements. However, several factors that influence the quality of the measurement were identified, including sensitivity to the installation method, the non-uniform thickness of the adhesive, and the plastic and viscoelastic behavior of the adhesive. In addition, thermal drift in the strain measurements and operational limitations of the interrogation device under low temperatures were observed. Despite these challenges, the findings confirm the potential of distributed fiber-optic sensing to monitor existing concrete pavements.