Construction Stress Monitoring Using a Wireless Sensor Network to Evaluate Reuse Potential of Structural Steel
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145, Issue 12
Abstract
Stresses in structural steel members of steel-framed buildings during construction are difficult to predict with certainty using conventional engineering methods. In order to inform current design practices and provide information to partially evaluate if a steel member can be reused after its service life, construction-induced strains in a typical building were recorded. Specifically, two columns and three Beams of a four-story steel-framed building were instrumented prior to delivery to the construction site using a wireless sensor network. Data were recorded for 48 days, while the structure was erected and the concrete deck poured, up to fireproofing the building. The data were analyzed considering dead load force effects during various construction phases, impacts, and temperatures. The analysis revealed high variations in temperature throughout the structure and consequently significant temperature-induced stresses as well as greater magnitudes of flexural stress in columns than expected. As a result, the recorded stresses differed by 1–120 MPa (0–18 ksi) compared to the theoretically predicted stresses. Yet, the maximum measured stress [160 MPa (23.2 ksi)] was only 46% of the nominal yield strength. Measured stresses were also used to calculate member forces, and the combined member forces resulted in a maximum of 55% of the yield limit. Thus, the results validated current design practices and the possibility of reusing structural steel.
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Acknowledgments
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. (NSF CBET-1336478). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. The construction monitoring was facilitated by the engineers and architects of University of Delaware Facilities and Auxiliary Services (namely Peter Krawchyk, Marcia Hutton, and Brian Saint), project managers at Whiting Turner (particularly Kris Satterfield and Dan Maniscalco), and personnel at RC Fabricators. This vital assistance to the project is gratefully acknowledged. Tayler Wennick and Gary Wenczel assisted with the instrumentation, and the support of Professor Bill Meyer for the use of his office to house the construction site camera was also critical to the success of this project. Finally, the authors would like to thank Jack Puleo for providing the construction site camera and his guidance on video equipment selection and recording.
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Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 145 • Issue 12 • December 2019
Copyright
©2019 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 7, 2018
Accepted: Feb 14, 2019
Published online: Sep 18, 2019
Published in print: Dec 1, 2019
Discussion open until: Feb 18, 2020
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