Optimization Analysis for Pavement Construction Integrated Optical Fiber Sensors Based on DEM-FDM Coupled Method.

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Geotechnical Engineering

Background:

• Distributed optical fiber sensors offer high sensitivity for structural health monitoring.
• Current pavement embedding methods negatively impact durability and construction efficiency.
• There's a need for clear requirements for in situ-embedded sensors in pavement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the micro-mechanical behavior of optical cables during pavement compaction.
• To determine optimal design requirements for embedded optical fiber sensors in pavements.

Main Methods:

• Coupled Discrete Element Method (DEM) and Finite Difference Method (FDM) approach.
• Simulation of optical cable behavior under ultimate pavement compaction stress.
• Analysis of aggregate forces and cable response to loads.

Main Results:

• Aggregate forces during compaction can exceed 150 N, posing a significant load.
• Unreinforced optical cables fail under vibration loads.
• GFRP strengthening and armoring reduced stress by up to 38.2% and displacement by up to 66.7%.
• Outer sheath thickness improves tensile but not compressive strength.
• Armored layer thickness enhances both tensile and compressive resistance.

Conclusions:

• Standard optical cables are unsuitable for direct pavement embedding without protection.
• GFRP components and armoring are crucial for protecting optical sensors during pavement construction.
• Optimized cable design, including sheath and armor thickness, is necessary for reliable pavement structural health monitoring.