Anchoring points for fibre optic strain sensors

We have presented a new type of anchoring mechanism for optical fibre strain sensors for large structure monitoring. It has been modelled numerically and characterised experimentally. The resulting performances are adequate for the purpose required when using a polyimide coated optical fibre. Further improvement in stress transmission efficiency and elastic behaviour limitation can be achieved when using a metal coated optical fibre, but at the expense of additional cost per anchoring point. We have evaluated two techniques to locally coat with metal sensing optical fibres. To be able to fully implement the technique a further reproducibility test is to be undertaken.