Field Qualification of Inexpensive Wireless Systems to Monitor Micrometer Crack Response for Structural Health Monitoring
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29, Issue 1
Abstract
This paper describes the details of installation and operation of a commercially available wireless system to measure response of interior cosmetic cracks in a residential structure over a period of a year. Wireless data loggers managed the response of low-power-draw potentiometers that measured micrometer changes in crack width. Systems like those studied herein are useful to describe the performance of any component of a constructed facility that involves existing cracks such as bridges, building facades, or other structures. Four wireless nodes were deployed within and around a test home of frame construction to qualify the system for further field use. Considerations for qualification included: fidelity of the measured crack response, ease of installation, resolution of structural health measurement, length of operation under a variety of conditions without intervention, and ease of display and interpretation of data. The article first describes the components of the system and the measurement plan. It then closes with an evaluation of the considerations for field qualification.
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Acknowledgments
The authors are indebted to the research-engineering group of the Infrastructure Technology Institute of Northwestern University: Dave Kosnik, Mat Kotowsky, and Dan Marron, as well as Jeff Meissner. The authors are also grateful for the financial support of ITI for this project through its block grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to develop and deploy new instrumentation to construct and maintain the transportation infrastructure. Finally the authors are indebted to Vulcan Materials Corporation for allowing the test house to be instrumented and for sharing portions of the blast data associated with the fragmentation at the adjacent quarry. Without this unique resource, this work could not have been undertaken or accomplished.
References
Dowding, C. H. (2008). Micrometer crack response to vibration and weather, International Society of Explosive Engineers, Cleveland, OH.
Koegel, T. (2011). “Comparative Report.” Internal Rep. Prepared for the Infrastructure Technology Institute, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL.
Kotowsky, M. (2010). “Wireless sensor networks for monitoring cracks in structures.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL.
Meissner, J. (2010). “Installation report for Sycamore test house.” Internal Rep. Prepared for the Infrastructure Technology Institute, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL.
Ozer, H. (2005). “Wireless crack measurement for the control of construction vibrations.” M.S. thesis, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 29 • Issue 1 • February 2015
Copyright
© 2014 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: May 30, 2012
Accepted: Mar 4, 2013
Published online: Jul 8, 2014
Discussion open until: Dec 8, 2014
Published in print: Feb 1, 2015
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