Developments in optical techniques for point and distributed sensing in large structures

In this presentation, recent research at the University of Kent is reported on the development of optical fibre based sensors capable of making temperature and strain measurements with resolutions compatible with those required for structural integrity measurements of bridges and similar structures. Initial results are also reported on the development of an acoustic sensor based on an 'in-fibre Bragg grating', this sensor has a linear frequency response up to 2MHz with potential for use with existing non destructive techniques to determine the location of defects or cracks in concrete. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E127016.