Completely embedded sensor systems for long-term operation offer innovative possibilities for structural health monitoring of concrete structures. Measuring of relevant parameters, e.g., temperature, humidity, or indication of corrosion can be performed with low energy sensors. This allows to implement passive RFID sensor systems without cable connection and battery, which are power supplied exclusively by the electromagnetic field from the external reader device. To evaluate characteristics and conditions of this concept, a systematical investigation of the transmission characteristics with variation of relevant parameters, as communication frequency, installation depth, type of concrete, moisture content, etc. is currently carried out in an interdisciplinary Research project at BAM. First results are presented in this paper.
BAM is the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing and the competent authority for mechanical and thermal safety assessment of transport packages for spent fuel and high level waste. In context with safety assessment of RAM packages BAM performed numerous drop tests in the last decades. The tests were mostly accompanied by extensive and various measurement techniques especially by instrumented measurements with strain gages and accelerometers. The procedure of drop testing and the resulting measurement analysis are the main methods to evaluate the safety against mechanical test conditions. Measurement techniques are dedicated to answer questions in regard to the structural integrity of a RAM package, the mechanical behavior of the prototype as well as of its content under impact conditions.
Test results like deceleration-time functions constitute a main basis for the validation of assumptions in the safety analysis and for the evaluation of numerical calculations. In this context the adequate selection of accelerometers and measurement systems for the performance of drop tests is important. Therefore it is not only necessary to find suitable positions for the accelerometers at the test specimens, but also to consider technical boundary conditions as e.g. temperature.
Durch faseroptische Sensoren können Bauteile im Einsatz kontinuierlich überwacht und frühzeitig Informationen über Materialveränderungen gewonnen werden. Mittels einer magnetostriktiven Aktorschicht, welche den Sensor umhüllt, kann nun auch die korrekte Sensorfunktion jederzeit kontrolliert werden. Als Aktorschicht eignet sich galvanisch abgeschiedenes reines Nickel oder Nickel-Eisen in der Zusammensetzung 50:50. Um diese haftfest mit dem Sensor zu verbinden wurde ein ECD/PVD-Kombinationsschichtsystem entwickelt. Die mechanischen Eigenschaften der ECD-Schicht können sowohl mit einer auf die Fasergeometrie angepassten instrumentierten Eindringprüfung als auch einem 2-Punkt-Biegeversuch bestimmt werden.
Concept for investigating mechanical and thermal impacts on distributed subsurface gas monitoring
(2016)
A multifunctional sensor in line shape was developed and introduced in previous work for measuring of gas concentrations, temperature change, and strain. A current field study focuses on a spatially distributed monitoring of subsurface CO 2 gas storage sites in near real time.
Mechanical impacts, e.g., caused by construction work, denudation, and seismic activity, can affect the integrity of underground gas storage sites. Thermal or moisture impacts, e.g., caused by weather conditions, can influence the gas Distribution behavior. In this paper, we briefly describe the setup of a CO 2 injection soil test field. This setup contains actuating elements for the investigation of mechanical and thermal impacts on distributed subsurface gas monitoring. A concept is given for evaluating these impacts and first experimental results are presented.
Strain and acceleration measurement during high dynamic drop tests, e.g., of containments for dangerous goods is performed using high speed multichannel measuring systems. So far established and operated systems need a cable connection of every strain gauge and acceleration sensor with the measuring device, often counting up to a number of more than 100 cables, corresponding to the number of applied sensors. The result is a massive cable harness consisting of all single cables, which is difficult to handle and causes a number of practical problems. An innovative approach is proposed by using a single cable measuring system, consisting of measuring modules with data bus connection and local data acquisition. Promising results were presented in a previous study. This paper follows up with additional results from full-scale testing of a further enhanced single cable system for the application in drop tests.
Gas sensors in linear form based on the measuring principle of gas selective permeability through a membrane were developed and introduced for the detection and quantification of gas concentrations. A current field study focuses on measuring CO2 concentrations for a spatially distributed monitoring of subsurface CO2 gas storage sites in near real time. A 400 m² test site and a corresponding laboratory system were built up to characterize, validate, and optimize the sensor. A calibration routine was developed, which can be applied subsequently to underground installation. First measurement results indicate the potential of the method.
Geogenic gases from natural sources, carbon dioxide (CO2) from a geological repository (carbon capture and storage - CCS) or a leaking gas pipeline can present serious risks in industrial and urban areas. To extend the lead time for risk treatment in such critical regions, reliable detection of gases within the shallow subsurface is required to observe critical gas accumulations before degassing into the atmosphere.
A near real-time monitoring approach is introduced to determine the volumetric expansion of a leakinggas in the subsurface. Considering the pressure relaxation with the ambient air pressure, the approach enables the forecasting of the final size of a pressurized gas body in terms of characteristic lengths. According to theoretical basics, such a characteristic length, which enables us to perform a gas (safety) measurement based on a purely geometrical measure, behaves independently of subsurface properties,i.e., it enables a reliable quantification of the escaping gas irrespective of its heterogeneous or changingflow path distribution. A field test for a 10 l/min pinhole leakage injected into a 10 m long, 0.4 m wide, 0.95 m deep soil-filled trench that was equipped with linear sensors shows the lateral-vertical volumetric gas expansion along these sensors, and demonstrates the applicability of the characteristic length approach.