The Soga Research Group/Center for Smart Infrastructure is working with Caltrans to develop a cutting-edge distributed fiber optic sensing system for monitoring ground anchors. The primary goal is to quantify the distributed soil-grout-anchor interaction and load/stain transfer mechanism in various ground conditions during construction, pull-out testing, and long-term service life. Field monitoring data combined with numerical modeling analysis will be used to improve design protocols for estimating ground anchor pull-out resistance capacity. Note, an innovative fiber optic cable-embedded steel tendon is being developed as part of a broader approach to quantify behavior of ground anchor system subcomponents. Distributed strain and temperature will be measured in ground anchors installed on various Caltrans projects.
