Pultruded FRP Beams with Embedded Fibre Bragg Grating Optical Sensors for Strain Measurement and Failure Detection

Composites have added new dimensions to the design and construction of buildings and structures. One of the wider spread composite applications in the construction industry is composite beams or pillars, which can be manufactured through pultrusion processes. These types of construction elements are usually used to withstand the weight of large loads, so their integrity must be guaranteed. Due to optical sensors’ advantages over their electrical counterparts—small sizes, low weight, non-conductive, and immunity to electromagnetic interference—and FBGs having an outstanding position among optical fibre sensors—due to their multiplexation capability and relatively easy monitoring—in this study, we propose the integration of FBG sensors for the observation and analysis of the integrity of structures made with composite beams over time. The validation test results showed the successful embedding integration of FBG-based fibre optical sensors in an FRP pultrusion beam and strain transmission up to 7500 µɛ from the composite test piece to the sensor. Additionally, we were able to anticipate the piece failure by the FBG spectrum deformation.