A Case Study on Reinforcing Asphalt Pavement Using Sensing Geogrid Based on Fiber Bragg Grating.

Area of Science:

• Civil Engineering
• Materials Science
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Traditional geogrids for reflective crack mitigation lack real-time internal monitoring capabilities.
• Assessing geogrid strain and pavement conditions during construction is challenging with existing methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel sensing geogrid integrating fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors.
• To enable real-time strain sensing and deformation monitoring within asphalt pavements.

Main Methods:

• Warp-knitting technology was used to embed FBG sensors into geogrids.
• Laboratory tensile tests were performed for sensor calibration.
• Field monitoring during asphalt pavement construction captured optical signal variations and geogrid deformation.

Main Results:

• The weaving process did not damage FBG sensors, ensuring signal integrity.
• A strong linear correlation (845 με/nm) was found between FBG sensor strain and geogrid deformation.
• Sensing geogrids demonstrated good construction adaptability and reduced maximum pavement deflection by 41%.

Conclusions:

• The developed sensing geogrid successfully integrates reinforcement and real-time strain-sensing functions.
• The technology is feasible for road engineering, offering valuable insights into pavement behavior during construction.
• This innovation provides a practical solution for monitoring pavement integrity and geogrid performance.