Corrosion monitoring and assessment of steel under impact loads using discrete and distributed fiber optic sensors

Abstract

Structural integrity can be compromised by the simultaneous presence of mechanical loads and corrosive agents. This study investigates the complex interplay between corrosion and impact loads in steel plates, utilizing discrete Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) and distributed Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry (OFDR) sensing technology. Generalized fiber optic-based sensing models are developed to quantify corrosion severity and rate. The experimental study was conducted using twelve epoxy-coated steel plates equipped with FBG and OFDR sensors, covering scenarios of individual exposure to corrosion, impact loads, as well as their combination. Test results reveal that specimens subjected to combined conditioning exhibit more corrosion damage than those subjected to individual corrosion. Both pit depth and its growth rate were exacerbated due to the impact loads. The study demonstrates the potential of fiber optic sensors (FOSs) for real-time monitoring and assessment of structural health under different simultaneous multiple factors in challenging conditions.