Preliminary results of a fiber optic scour sensor (FOSS) for bridges

Abstract

Bridges are a vital part of the infrastructure that shapes our society. The management of these assets against ever increasing climatic changes is providing unprecedented challenges for bridge asset owners worldwide. The effects of more frequent and severe rainfall flood events in the UK have exacerbated concerns around the management of bridge scour events. This research presents the development and field deployment of a Fiber Optic Scour Sensor (FOSS), designed to remotely monitor scour and infilling in real-time. This sensor consists of three sensing elements (fins) buried at different depths. As scouring occurs, the fins are exposed and free to move and register a response. Following the flood event, as the scour hole begins to infill, these fins are buried, and this process can be picked up on the data trace. A prototype FOSS was installed at Regent bridge in Northern Ireland; a site selected for its accessibility and suitability for monitoring. This paper outlines the installation, and the initial findings, following two storms in October 2023, demonstrating the sensor's potential for real-time scour detection in operational environments.