Development and sensing performance study of a smart CFRP cable assembled by multi-group anchorage units

Carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) can be applied for bridge cables due to its excellent properties. As the important load-bearing structural component, real-time force monitoring of the CFRP cable is required. This paper presents a new smart CFRP cable that combines the self-sensing rods with embedded sensors and the anchorage system using extrusion technology. By embedding optical fiber (OF) and coaxial cable Fabry-Perot interferometer (CCFPI) into CFRP rods respectively, two types of self-sensing rods (CFRP-OF rod and CFRP-CCFPI rod) were fabricated. A new anchorage unit using an extrusion process was proposed as a basic component of smart CFRP cables. Anchorage units holding a CFRP-OF rod and a CFRP-CCFPI rod were tested to obtain their sensing and mechanical properties. Three anchorage units were assembled to form a smart CFRP cable with self-sensing functionality. A verification test was carried out to confirm the capability of monitoring the cable force. The test results demonstrate that the smart CFRP cable composed of multiple anchorage units has good potential in bridge engineering.