Mode of operation
Large structures pose a significant risk to lives and property around them in case they fail. Continuous monitoring and preventative maintenance are therefore critical. Built-in sensor cables allow operators to detect and localize changes in the building fabric not only on the surface, but also inside. This is the only way to ensure targeted and customized maintenance.
Shielded strain sensor cables are mounted both on the surface and embedded in structures to register the slightest of shifts. Pre-strained cables enable the detection of swelling or shortening. Vibration-sensitive cables are used to detect micro-cracks when they arise.
Brillouin and Rayleigh-based systems are utilized for infrastructure monitoring applications. Since structural changes are long-term and don’t generally require 24/7 monitoring. Mobile measurement systems can be used across multiple sites to maximize utilization and minimize cost. It’s best to equip monitored infrastructure from the beginning, during construction with the right sensor cables. Retrofit installation is possible but limited to surface monitoring.
Brillouin test equipment measures the light frequency shift of side-bands and transforms this into a strain value. Current systems enable detection and measurement down to a few Micro-Strain (micro-meters per meter).
In order to increase adhesion between the sensor and structure, we offer strain cables with a textured surface. Increasingly, multi-function “hybrid” cables are deployed to detect motion as well as sound and vibration.
Advantages
Fiber Optic Dam Monitoring
Dams and levees are not only endangered by movements of the structure, but also by earthquakes and moisture in the structure. In order to detect moisture and leakage in dam systems at an early stage, Solifos offer fiber-optic sensor solutions for monitoring the integrity of the dam. The data supplied allow a comprehensive understanding of the mechanical behavior of the dam. In this way, risks and threats can be assessed precisely and at an early stage. Here using the example of Lago Bianco in Switzerland.
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Application Examples
Pipeline Monitoring
Depending on the application, strain sensing cables are mounted either directly on the pipe to be monitored or buried in the ground a few meters from the pipeline. Acoustic and temperature-sensing cables are utilised to monitor leakage along oil, gas, steam and water pipes. Incidents are localized quickly to within a few meters.
Installed Products:
Bridges and Buildings
Bridge and building structural integrity can decline slowly over time, or quickly due to unexpected events like earthquakes, accidents or weather events. With Solifos’ distributed fiber-optic cables, slow changes can be continuously monitored over time. And, in the case of unexpected events, a comparison of before and after performance is done.
Installed Products:
Piling Monitoring
In the most technologically advanced countries large buildings are monitored for their long-term stability. In particular, a shift in their foundations needs to be detected early in order to take corrective actions. Strain sensing fiber optic cables are attached directly to foundation pilings for this purpose. External access points simplify periodic measurement of before and after parameters.
Installed Products:
Dams and Levees
Dams and levees are at risk not just from movement but also earthquakes and moisture in the structure. Heatable sensor cables are used for early detection of seepage and moisture in these structures. In combination with a strain sensing cable, Brillouin interrogators can measure both properties at once.
