Structural Test and Measurement

AITHER’s AITHER offers a wide range of structural test and measurement services. Our expert staff is highly qualified at fiber optic sensor installation on a wide variety of structure types. Our services include pre-test consultation to determine the ideal sensor system, sensor placement, and number of sensors for your application. We offer in-field test measurement services to make measurements for your application in its host environment. We also offer data processing and analysis services to provide you with detailed information on your application. Our experience includes submergence testing of submarine vehicles, in-field installations of civil structures, rough-sea trials of naval vessels, and wide range of other large-scale laboratory and in-field tests. Please view the pages below for further information on our marquee structural tests, and contact us to see how we can provide a fiber optic sensing solution for your structural sensing needs.

Submarine Hydrostatic Testing

AITHER has developed an advanced large-scale sensing system for submarine structural monitoring using fiber Bragg gratings. For this program, key locations on the submarine structure were identified for sensor application. A total of 97 fiber Bragg grating sensors were retrofit to both the inner and outer wall of the submarine hull, as well as the battery pods and ballast tanks, and were interrogated by a single instrumentation unit.

Composite Bridge Pile Testing

AITHER developed a structural health monitoring system to obtain structural load data using optical fiber Bragg grating sensors embedded in the composite shell of a load carrying bridge pile. The monitoring system and sensors were proven during a full-scale in-field trial. This technology has applications for structural health monitoring of bridges, piers, and other pile-supported infrastructure. The monitoring system has potential applications for all civil structures.

R/V Triton

AITHER has developed an advanced large-scale sensing system for ship monitoring using fiber Bragg gratings. Through collaboration with the U.S. and British Navies, AITHER implemented this system on the British Research Vessel (R/V) Triton. For this program, key locations on the ship structure were identified by the sponsors. The corresponding instrumentation and system layout were specified by AITHER. Rough-water sea trials were conducted to verify the accuracy and utility of the ship monitoring system.