Wireless soft elastomeric capacitor sensor network for long-term fatigue crack monitoring of steel bridges

Xiangxiong Kong, Jong Hyun Jeong, Parisa Asadollahi, Yuguang Fu, Hongki Jo, Caroline Bennett, William Collins, Simon Laflamme, Jian Li

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Long-term monitoring of fatigue cracks in large-scale bridge structures poses unique challenges due to the randomness of crack occurrences, small crack openings that impose negligible impact on global structural responses, slow crack propagation, and environmental impact. In this paper, we describe a recently-created integrated wireless fatigue cracking monitoring system with several unique features aimed at addressing these challenges. These features include: 1) a low cost large-size skin-type capacitive strain sensor to cover large bridge surfaces. A network of such sensors is deployed to capture potential crack initiation and propagation over large fatigue susceptible regions, 2) a novel crack growth index derived from the measured capacitance response, which is robust against long-term signal drift due to environmental impact, 3) a dedicated capacitance sensor board to enable robust wireless data acquisition through the next generation wireless sensing platform Xnode, 4) a novel low-power triggering mechanism to enable autonomous and continuous sensing and data acquisition for long-term monitoring. The integrated monitoring system was deployed in a full-scale steel highway bridge and preliminary field data are presented in this paper.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication9th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure
Subtitle of host publicationTransferring Research into Practice, SHMII 2019 - Conference Proceedings
EditorsGenda Chen, Sreenivas Alampalli
PublisherInternational Society for Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure, ISHMII
Pages570-575
Number of pages6
ISBN (Electronic)9780000000002
StatePublished - 2019
Event9th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure: Transferring Research into Practice, SHMII 2019 - St. Louis, United States
Duration: Aug 4 2019Aug 7 2019

Publication series

Name9th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure: Transferring Research into Practice, SHMII 2019 - Conference Proceedings
Volume1

Conference

Conference9th International Conference on Structural Health Monitoring of Intelligent Infrastructure: Transferring Research into Practice, SHMII 2019
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySt. Louis
Period8/4/198/7/19

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Civil and Structural Engineering
  • Building and Construction

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