Bridging the gap between research and practice: the case of distributed fiber optic sensors for SHM of concrete structures

Abstract

"This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis Group in Structure & infrastructure engineering on 16/09/2025, available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/15732479.2025.2560065."

This paper shows the path followed by a research team at UPC-BarcelonaTech in order to implement the technology of distributed strain sensing using fiber optical sensors to structural concrete. To reach this objective it was necessary to bridge the existing huge gap between a monitoring technology developed in other fields to the specific case of civil engineering concrete structures. Therefore, bridging this gap was mandatory for a successful implementation of the new technology. This was achieved by a ‘3-span bridge’. How the 3 spans are defined, founded and built up is explained through the chapters of the paper by showing several laboratory and full-scale applications carried out in the last 15¿years where thin-coated distributed fiber optical sensors (DFOS) and Rayleigh backscattering were the selected options for the distributed sensing. The process shown in the paper may have similar applications to other techniques born in other disciplines different from civil engineering, but that present clear potential applicability. After some adaptation developments because of the characteristics of the materials used in civil engineering structures, the research and testing at the laboratory level finally derives in a full developed methodology that is finally tested on some real-world prototypes.

My warmest and deep acknowledgement to my former Ph.D. students, Dr. Vicens Villalba, Dr. Sergi Villalba, Dr. Gerardo Rodríguez, Dr. Antonio Barrias, Dr. Mattia Francesco Bado and my former Msc. student Judith Gómez. Without their dedication and effort, the gap between theory and practice could be never bridged. The financial support provided by the European Union Horizon 2020 research and innovation program to the TRUSS project under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 642453 is also acknowledged.

Peer Reviewed

Postprint (published version)