Supervisor
Deliverables
- Sensing architecture
- Fully embedded Sensor integration in composites infusion process
- Load Testing data analysis
- FEM Validation
- Remote Condition base monitoring
FULLY BIO-BASED COMPOSITE FOOTBRIDGE: STRAIN MONITORING DURING USE PHASE
A bio-based pedestrian bridge, first in its kind, has been installed at the TU/e University campus in Eindhoven. Material test formed the basis for the innovative design and the research project resulted in the production and installation of the bridge. Because there are still a lot of unknowns in the material behaviour of the used bio-composites, it was decided to monitor and test the bridge further after production. For this purpose, optical FBG sensors have been installed. The FBG sensors show the material strains in good detail and the results of the thus measured strains in load tests are shown. The test results are compared with results from earlier material tests. The short term structural behaviour follows closely the used elastic models based on calculated as well as measured stiffnesses.
Recent developments have shown that bio-based materials can provide a useful approach for recyclable objects. Until now fully bio-based primary structural elements have not been used and the applications are limited to experiments with facades components. So far building industry clients are generally hesitant to put new technologies into practice without proof of concepts and therefore this pedestrian bridge is a big step forward.
Com&Sens embedded fiber optic sensors during the composites infusion process FBG with the objectives to validate the FEM parameters and to set up a long term remote condition based health monitoring system.