Live-bed bridge scour monitoring system development using fiber Bragg grating sensor: Fid-Bau Portal

Live-bed bridge scour monitoring system development using fiber Bragg grating sensor

Lin, Y.B. / Chang, K.C. / Lai, J.S.

Bridge scour is one of the leading causes of bridge failure. Undermining and exposure of the bridge pier foundations due to the scouring action can result in the structural failure. The Taiwan Island is subject to frequent floods as a result of typhoons which contribute to possible loss of bearing support of bridges. Safety monitoring is absolutely crucial for prior warning or sign of distress to bridge structures because scour failure tends to occur suddenly, especially in a flood event. In recent years, many efforts have been dedicated to the development of real-time monitoring instrumentations for scour measurements. It is important to monitor the in-situ scour-depth changes in order to prevent a catastrophic failure of the bridge and possible loss of lives on the bridges with busy traffic. Based on the analysis herein, the evidence proves that the proposed FBG system can function well and survive through the flood event. The system is durable and reliable. It has been demonstrated to be successful for real-time scour-depth measurements in the processes of scouring and deposition. The field results indicate that this in-situ scour monitoring system using fiber Bragg grating sensors has the great potential for practical applications to the erosion problems around hydraulic works. The scour measurements obtained at the Dadu Bridge are also valuable for further usage to study the maximum scour depth and scour rate with various sediment properties under different flow situations. The in-situ information collected herein is very helpful in assisting engineers to design more accurate, safer and more cost-effective bridges.