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.
The combination of Radio-frequency identification (RFID) and low energy sensors offers promising chances to implement cost effective, easy to apply, and easy to handle sensor systems for a variety of applications. The RFID technology is already well established in logistics. Enhanced processing and interface capabilities enable the integration of various sensors for control, diagnostics, and monitoring tasks. In the scope of research projects carried out at the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), RFID sensor systems were developed and validated with regard to two different application scenarios: the Identification and diagnosis of concrete components for road bridges and the monitoring of dangerous goods transportation. This contribution presents selected research results and reflects the practical experiences on future chances and limitations of RFID sensor systems.
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.
Long-term completely embedded sensor systems 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.
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.
A 400 m² soil test field with gas injection system was built up, which enables an experimental validation of linear gas sensors for specific applications and gases in an application-relevant scale. Several injection and soil watering experiments with carbon dioxide (CO2) at different days with varying boundary conditions were performed indicating the potential of the method for, e.g., rapid leakage detection with respect to Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) issues.
This work presents first results from repeti-tive CO2 injection experiments performed on a recently built-up 400 m² soil test field with gas injection system. The test field contains 48 membrane-based linear gas sensors that were installed in several depths of the test field. Sensors for measuring meteorological parameters (e.g., wind / rain) and the parameters soil temperature, soil moisture, and groundwater level were installed additionally. A more de-tailed description of the test field setup can be found in. A short description of the mem-brane-based linear gas sensors’ functional prin-ciple can be found in.
Long-term completely embedded sensor systems 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.
Berlin Main Station is the largest multi-level station in Europe. Its daily passenger number amounts to over 300.000. Structures built for such a large number of people require a high-level safety standard. The station was built on the inner city site of the historic Lehrter Bahnhof. The conditions for building and start of operation were challenging by several reasons. The typical sandy ground with a high level of groundwater makes the permanent static stability of such a complex structure difficult. Several completed, ongoing, and planned construction activities in the immediate vicinity of the station influence the ground settlement of the whole area. On basis of the structural design an impact prediction was calculated, which expected certain vertical displacements particularly between the single columns of the outer concrete bridges of the building. These columns support the glass roof construction, which only allows a defined limit of displacement. In order to avoid damage, a concept for monitoring and adjusting potentially occurring displacements was developed for installation at the outer bridges of the station.