Optimization of the installation techniques of distributed optic fiber sensors and measurement accuracy analysis for asphalt pavement based on finite element methods

The accurate measurement strain is critical to evaluating the structural integrity of asphalt pavements. The measurement strain error is caused by the encapsulation and installation of distributed optical fiber sensor (DOFS) for pavement monitoring. This study introduces an innovative approach to correct installation error. Firstly, a DOFS is embedded into asphalt pavement to simulate the mechanical response caused by traffic load. The optimal installation technology for each asphalt layer is proposed. In addition, the strain correction formula considering the pavement temperature is proposed for different asphalt layer. A rutting test is used to evaluate monitoring performance. Finally, a test road was built. A continuous temporal and spatial distribution strain of DOFS caused by traffic load is obtained. The results indicate that the average error rate of strain testing effectively decreases for each asphalt layer. In summary, this paper contributes to obtaining more accurate measurement strain of DOFS in pavement monitoring.