Structural health monitoring technologies by Polytec
In the construction sector, Polytec focuses on fiber-optic strain and temperature measurement. Hair-thin glass fiber sensors provide data integrated into structures like dams, bridges, buildings, and tunnels, enabling analysis of material stress, crack formation, shear forces, or soil movement on landslide-prone slopes. The systems are tailored to each application — whether embedded in concrete beams for millimeter-resolution strain profiles or for monitoring kilometer-long bridge structures.
A second focus is on the digital image correlation (DIC) method. Non-contact 3D monitoring of deformations and displacements in solid construction and material testing perfectly complements fiber optic measurement technology.
Videos
German speaking ARD TV report on aging bridges and the use of Polytec's fiber optic sensors for 24/7 monitoring.
The feature covers the research project described in the above-linked technical article "New Approaches to Bridge Monitoring" from the Polytec Web Magazine.
German speaking SWR TV feature from the “Planet Wissen” series on long-term bridge monitoring, including the use of Polytec’s fiber optic sensors for 24/7 structural surveillance (from 40:00 to 48:00 min).
Webinar recording
by Graz University of Technology (Prof. Werner Lienhard and Lisa Strasser), providing a comprehensive introduction to distributed fiber optic sensing for bridge monitoring.
Polytec Magazin
Continuous fiber optic strain measurement
Some bridges in Germany are aging and not designed for today’s increasing traffic loads. Authorities must now find cost-effective solutions to manage these existing structures.
Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing for Geotechnical Monitoring
Stones, blocks, steel, cement, concrete, and mortar—combined with large, heavy, clumsy, and noisy construction machinery—hardly make an ideal environment for a fragile glass fiber.
Distributed fiber-optic temperature and strain measurement with extremely high spatial resolution
Sampling of the Rayleigh scattering along a length of optical fiber allows the realization of a distributed sensor system where every point along the fiber acts as a sensor. This novel method allows ...
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors in Practice
Fiber-optic sensors are used in wind turbines not only for monitoring but also for control, for example, to adjust the rotor blades based on load measurements of the blades.
Expanded options for deformation tests in materials analysis
In materials research, digital image correlation (DIC) is an established method for accurately and non-contactly detecting deformations. This applies to tensile, compressive, and bending tests as well as i…
Scientific publications in the field of solid/ concrete construction
| Authors | Title |
|---|---|
| Katarzyna Zdanowicz, Daniel Gebauer, Marc Koschemann, Kerstin Speck, Oliver Steinbock, Birgit Beckmann, Steffen Marx (2022) | Distributed fiber optic sensors for measuring strains of concrete, steel, and textile reinforcement: Possible fields of application. |
| Max Herbers, Bertram Richter, Daniel Gebauer, Martin Classen, Steffen Marx (2023) | Crack monitoring on concrete structures: Comparison of various distributed fiber optic sensors with digital image correlation method. |
| Bertram Richter, Max Herbers, Steffen Marx (2023) | Crack monitoring on concrete structures with distributed fiber optic sensors - Toward automated data evaluation and assessment. |
| Max Herbers, Bertram Richter, Benjamin Schwarz, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Marx (2023) | Measurement monitoring of prestressed concrete components using fiber optic sensors (German language) |
| H. Burger, T. Tepho, O. Fischer, N. Schramm (2023) | Performance assessment of existing prestressed concrete bridges utilizing distributed optical fiber sensors. |
| Max Herbers, Jan-Hauke Bartels, Bertram Richter, Fabian Collin, Lisa Ulbrich, Thamer Al-Zuriqat, Carlos Chillón Geck, Hubert Naraniecki, Oliver Hahn, Dr.-Ing. Frank Jesse, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Kay Smarsly, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Steffen Marx (2024) | openLAB – A research bridge for the development of a digital bridge twin. (German language) Further information on the above-mentioned research bridge (openLAB) |
| Henrik Becks, Matthias Högemann, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Josef Hegger, Prof. Martin Classen (2025) | Assessing crack formation and strain distribution in concrete structures using externally installed fiber optic sensors. |
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