Evaluation of flexural behaviour of cemented pavement material beams using distributed fibre optic sensors

This paper aims to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of the estimation of flexural strains in cemented pavement material (CPM) beams using a distributed fibre optic sensing technique. Static and dynamic four-point bending tests were performed on CPM beams equipped with distributed fibre optic sensors (DFOSs) and a linear variable differential transducer (LVDT). The strain data recorded by the DFOSs indicated that the midspan deflection measured by LVDT provides a reliable estimation of the flexural strain in CPM beams under both static and dynamic loading conditions. Moreover, the evolution of the strain profiles measured by DFOSs during the flexural tests clearly demonstrated the capability of DFOSs to detect crack initiation and propagation in CPM beams.