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Organisationseinheit der BAM
One of the more difficult tasks for structural health monitoring is the continuous evaluation of the stability and load capacity of the building materials. This knowledge can be won, e.g., by taking material samples at the examining place with the drawback of partly destroying the structure. To avoid this, modern sensor and communication technologies offer promising methods for non-destructive testing. To address the tasks for monitoring of concrete structures, in the presented study, different sensors were combined with RFID transponders and embedded in concrete components.
Embedded wireless sensor systems for long-term SHM and corrosion detection in concrete components
(2017)
State-of-the-art communication standards like RFID and Bluetooth Low Energy enable the development of sensor systems which can be completely embedded into concrete components for long-term SHM and early damage detection. Objective of the project KonSens which is carried out at BAM is the development, implementation, and validation of sensors for measuring of Parameters relevant for corrosion, like moisture, pH value, and electrical conductivity, inside steel reinforced concrete components. The primarily addressed application is detection and evaluation of corrosion processes in concrete bridges.
In contrast to cable connected sensors, embedded wireless sensors avoid any pathways for intrusion of moisture and chemicals, e.g., chlorides which could trigger corrosion activity. To allow for long-term, ideally life-time operation, the once embedded sensor systems must work highly energy efficient. One option are passive RFID sensor systems, which work without battery. The energy is transmitted to the system through the electromagnetic field, even to operate sensors. A crucial parameter is the transmission depth in concrete. First experiments with RFID sensors working at frequencies of 13.56 MHz (HF) and 868 MHz (UHF) embedded in concrete specimen resulted positive for transmission depths of up to 13 cm, which is quite promising, considering that corrosion would appear first at the top level of rebars.
A second generation of passive RFID sensor systems has been implemented with improved antenna design. Current experiments using these systems focus on the Transmission characteristics in terms of transmission depths and the impact of concrete moisture. Low-energy humidity sensors are used and analysed regarding their capability for measuring the material moisture. Additionally, a relation between transmitted power to the embedded sensor and the moisture content of the concrete specimen caused by energy absorption can be presumed and is under systematic investigation.
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an important part of buildings surveillance and maintenance to detect material failure as early as possible and to contribute in protection of structures and their users.
The implementation of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensor systems without cable connection and battery into building components offers innovative possibilities to enable long-term in-situ SHM of addressed structures, bridges. The objectives of the presented study are complete embedding of RFID sensors systems in concrete, full passive communication with the systems, at best for the whole life span of structures. One challenge for this task is the highly alkaline environment in concrete, which requires non-degrading and robust encapsulation. Further Requirements are passive communication and energy supply, appropriate antenna design, placement and fixation in concrete, and the selection and implementation of sensors and connections. The concept is to develop and optimize a simple and robust system, which meets the requirements, as well as comprehensive validation in concrete specimen and real world applications. Two different systems were developed (HF and UHF RFID, respectively).
First tasks were the implementation of analog sensors using the superposition principle for the signal adaption. Investigation of suitable materials for robust encapsulation and sensor protection against basic environments.
Four materials were investigated in pH13 solution for 14 days - 3D-Printer-Polymer was completely resolved - PVC has no noticeable decrease in weight - (VitaPro) glass filter for the sensor protector, has weight loss 2.7% - The epoxy resin has increased by 1.8% due to moisture expansion Different concrete samples were prepared for the validation of the systems. RFID sensors were embedded in different integration depths. Investigate the energy- and data transfer through concrete, also with varying moisture content. Additionally, signal strength data was used to optimize and validate the antenna characteristics in concrete. Next steps are to guarantee a sufficient energy supply for UHF RFID systems embedded in different concrete mixtures and further embedding the HF and UHF RFID systems in real bridges and buildings to validate the long term monitoring.
Leaking methane (CH4) from infrastructures, such as pipelines and landfills, is critical for the environment but can also pose a safety risk. To enable a fast detection and localization of these kind of leaks, we developed a novel robotic platform for aerial remote gas sensing. Spectroscopic measurement methods for remote sensing of selected gases lend themselves for use on mini-copters, which offer a number of advantages for inspection and surveillance over traditional methods. No direct contact with the target gas is needed and thus the influence of the aerial platform on the measured gas plume can be kept to a minimum. This allows to overcome one of the major issues with gas-sensitive mini-copters. On the other hand, remote gas sensors, most prominently Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy (TDLAS) sensors have been too bulky given the payload and energy restrictions of mini-copters. Here, we present the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for Remote Gas Sensing (UAV-REGAS), which combines a novel lightweight TDLAS sensor with a 3-axis aerial stabilization gimbal for aiming on a versatile hexacopter. The proposed system can be deployed in scenarios that cannot be addressed by currently available robots and thus constitutes a significant step forward for the field of Mobile Robot Olfaction (MRO). It enables tomographic reconstruction of gas plumes and a localization of gas sources. We also present first results showing its performance under realistic conditions.
Innovation is the catalyst for the technology of the future. It is important to develop new and better technologies that can continuously monitor the environmental impact, e.g., for air quality control or emission detection. In the recently at BAM developed Universal Pump Sensor Control (UPSC3) module, different components and sensors are fused. The combination of the individual components makes the UPSC3 module an excellent monitoring and reference system for the development and characterization of gas specific sensors. Measurements over long periods are possible, for mixed gas loads or for certain gas measurements. The system is part of a mobile sensor network of several sensor units, which can also be used as standalone systems.
The motivation and objective of this research is to develop gas sensors based on fluorescence detection with range of ppm / ppb. For this task a reference system is required, which contains volatile organic compound (VOC) sensors for reference data from different scenarios. The integrated multi-sensor unit can measure different gases through the integrated 3-fold VOC sensor, which can be adapted to the addressed scenario. . The system-integrated flow control, with pump and flow sensor, allows the gas molecules to be transported directly to the VOC sensor. The entire measurement is permanently stored on an integrated memory card. If the previously determined limit range is exceeded, an alarm is generated. The system is an important tool towards further developments in the field of gas sensors and is primarily used for the validation of chemically based gas sensors.
In the KonSens Project, sensor systems are developed, validated, and operated in form of functional models for the application areas Structure Integrated Sensors and Mobile Multi-gas Sensors. Key aspects are the detection and evaluation of corrosion processes in reinforced concrete structures as well as the detection and quantification of very low concentrations of toxic gases in air. The adaption of sensor principles from the lab into real-life application including appropriate communication techniques is a major task.
In recent years, Structural Health Monitoring have gained in importance, since growing age of buildings and infrastructure as well as increasing load requirements demand for reliable surveillance methods. In this regard, the project follows two strategies: First, the development and implementation of completely embedded sensor systems consisting of RFID-tag and in situ sensors, and their further application potential (e.g. for precast concrete elements, roadways, wind power plants, and maritime structures). Secondly, the development of a long-term stable, miniaturized, fiber optic sensor for a ratiometric and referenced measurement of the pH-value in concrete based on fluorescence detection as an indicator for carbonation and corrosion.
Environmental pollution through emission of toxic gases becomes an increasing problem not only in agriculture (e.g. biogas plants) and industry but also in urban areas. This leads to increasing demand to monitor environmental emissions as well as ambient air and industrial air components in many scenarios and in even lower concentrations than nowadays. The selectivity of luminescence-based sensors is enabled by the combination of the sensing dye and the material, which is used as accumulation medium for concentration of the analyte. This principle allows for developing gas sensors with high selectivity and sensitivity of defined substances. Additional benefits, particularly of fluorescence-based sensors, are their capability for miniaturization and potential multiplex mode. Objective is the development and implementation of sensors based on fluorescence detection for defined toxic gases (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, ozone, and benzene) with sensitivity in the low ppm or even ppb range. Additionally, the integration of such sensors in mobile sensor devices is addressed.
This paper is a further research on the topic of the complete embedding of radio frequency identification (RFID) sensors in concrete. The focus is on the antenna of the transponder. Earlier investigations of different RFID technologies, embedded in concrete, showed a difference in energy transmission. The transmission through concrete at ultra high frequency (UHF), in spite of the large signal range, does not match the targeted application specific task. Therefore, the antenna characteristics have been examined more closely. The antenna is an important component for the application of RFID. Through the antenna, energy and data transfer takes place, so it is important to design an optimal antenna to accomplish a maximum embedding depths in concrete. To identify the optimal antenna geometry, different UHF antenna types were selected and investigated. An experimental comparison was performed to gain more information about the damping behavior and antenna characteristics in concrete.
Ammonia and its reaction products can cause considerable damage of human health and ecosystems, increasing the necessity for reliable and reversible sensors to monitor traces of gaseous ammonia in ambient air directly on-site or in the field. Although various types of gas sensors are available, fluorescence sensors have gained importance due to advantages such as high sensitivity and facile miniaturization.
Here, we present the development of a sensor material for the detection of gaseous ammonia in the lower ppm to ppb range by incorporation of a fluorescent dye, which shows reversible fluorescence modulations as a function of analyte concentration, into a polymer matrix to ensure the accumulation of ammonia. A gas standard generator producing standard gas mixtures, which comply with the metrological traceability in the desired environmentally relevant measurement range, was used to calibrate the optical sensor system. To integrate the sensor material into a mobile device, a prototype of a hand-held instrument was developed, enabling straightforward data acquisition over a long period.
Piezoresistive accelerometers use a strainsensing element, generally made of semiconductor material, e.g., silicon to convert the mechanical motion into an electrical signal. This element is usually designed in form of a cantilever beam loaded with a mass. Acceleration causes bending
of the beam, which produces a change of electrical resistance proportional to the applied acceleration.
Main advantages of piezoresistive accelerometers in comparison to other types, e.g., piezoelectric and capacitive, is their robust and highly dynamic behavior, which qualifies them for application in high impact shock applications. Mechanical damping is typically implemented with silicon oil in a way that the output signal is undistorted over a wide frequency range. These characteristics principally qualify them for the application in drop tests carried out at BAM, for which they are calibrated over the frequency range from 1 to 4 kHz. However, using silicon oil for damping, has the drawback of temperature dependent change of its viscosity, leading to temperature dependent deviation of the accelerometer’s sensitivity. This study presents experimental results of the temperature behavior of a piezoresistive accelerometer with a dynamic range up to ±5000 g.
This type of accelerometer is applied for drop tests which are partially performed at temperatures of -40 or +100 °C.
This paper deals with the development and investi-gation of a volatile organic compound (VOC) system for differ-ent scenarios. The integrated multi-sensor unit can detect dif-ferent gases through the integrated 3-fold VOC sensor, where-by a continuous measurement takes place. The system-integrated flow control, with pump and flow sensor, allows the gas molecules to be transported directly to the VOC sensor. The entire measurement is permanently stored on an integrat-ed Secure Digital (SD) card. If the previously determined limit range is exceeded, an alarm is generated. Due to the combina-tion of different components, numerous applications are possi-ble. The system is the first step or a tool towards further devel-opments in the field of gas sensors and is primarily used for the validation of chemically based gas sensors, and it is still largely extended by application-specific influences.