Open Access
Peer-Reviewed
Original Research Articles
Advances in Structural Health Monitoring of Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridges Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays and Machine Learning Anomaly Detection
Abstract
Continuous real-time structural health monitoring (SHM) of critical civil infrastructure is essential for mitigating catastrophic structural failures and optimizing maintenance lifecycles. This research develops an integrated intelligent monitoring framework combining dense multiplexed Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) optical sensor networks with deep convolutional neural network anomaly classifiers for prestressed concrete highway bridges. The sensing system captures high-frequency dynamic strain, modal curvature variations, and ambient thermal gradients across critical bridge girder cross-sections. Field validation conducted on an active multi-span concrete bridge subjected to controlled heavy vehicular loadings demonstrated that the FBG optical array achieved sub-microstrain measurement precision with zero electromagnetic interference. The autoencoder-based machine learning algorithm successfully detected microscopic tendon debonding and localized stiffness degradation with an accuracy of 97.6% under noisy environmental conditions. The proposed system provides a highly reliable, low-latency diagnostic platform for highway authorities and civil engineers to transition from periodic manual inspections to proactive automated infrastructure management. Furthermore, empirical validation and sensitivity analyses confirm the generalizability of these findings across international operational testbeds. The study articulates vital implementation roadmaps for academic researchers, engineering practitioners, and policy stakeholders aiming to optimize domain performance and sustainable technological leadership.
Keywords
Structural Health Monitoring
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors
Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridges
Deep Learning Anomaly Detection
Civil Infrastructure Reliability
Optical Sensor Networks
Declarations & Ethics
Funding:
This research received academic dissemination support through ESCAP / JournalsHub publishing programs.
Conflicts of Interest:
The authors declare no competing financial or institutional interests.
Peer Review:
Double-blind peer reviewed by international subject specialists.
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0).
How to Cite This Article
APA / MLA / BibTeX
Thorne, et al. (2026). Advances in Structural Health Monitoring of Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridges Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays and Machine Learning Anomaly Detection. Asian Journal of Engineering and Technology, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.24203/ajet.v14i1.7601
Thorne, et al. "Advances in Structural Health Monitoring of Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridges Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays and Machine Learning Anomaly Detection." Asian Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 14, no. 1, 2026. https://doi.org/10.24203/ajet.v14i1.7601
Thorne, et al. "Advances in Structural Health Monitoring of Post-Tensioned Concrete Bridges Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensor Arrays and Machine Learning Anomaly Detection." Asian Journal of Engineering and Technology 14, no. 1 (2026). https://doi.org/10.24203/ajet.v14i1.7601