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A toolbox with non-destructive testing methods for the condition assessment of railway bridges
(2006)
The unified economic structure of the European market requires a unified transport infrastructure to ensure seamless and barrierfree transportation of passengers and goods. The European commission is funding the European Integrated Project Sustainable Bridges to comply with future traffic demands. The main objective of the project is to reliably assess and upgrade the bridge infrastructure for the required increase of axle loads and transport volume. 32 Institutes from 12 countries develop unified procedures for the assessment and improvement of the existing railway bridge stock under the guidance and review of six major European railway companies.
Non destructive testing (NDT) is given a high priority. One of the work packages concentrates on the potential of advanced NDT-methods and creates a toolbox with advisable methods for the condition assessment of all types of railway bridges. Although NDT-methods are implemented in the quality assurance process in many industries, their application in the railway infrastructure is not common. Only a few countries have included selected NDT-methods into advanced condition assessment procedures for the management of their bridge stock.
This paper describes also current activities to enhance pulse-phase thermography, impulse-radar and acoustic methods. The advanced methods enable infrastructure owners to verify construction plans, to assess structures, repair and strengthening quality or to identify in-service damages. Latest development is an automated scanning system for combined acoustic and electromagnetic measurements. The results are then combined through data fusion techniques to further increase their value for the bridge owners.
Acoustic measurement methods
(2008)
Active Thermography
(2016)
Active thermography is a nondestructive testing method for identification of near surface defects and signs of early deterioration. The presentation explains the potential and Limits of the method and the equipment for application to concrete structures. Advanced data analysis can increase the quality of imaging of the measurement. The method is usually applied once for analysis of the current condition. If applied periodically, the method can be used for observation of a deterioration process.
Active thermography
(2017)
Active thermography is introduced as tool for diagnostics in civil engineering structures. Aside from basic information, examples for applications of active thermography in different types of structures was presented. Active thermography was applied in historic structures to reveal former components or even ancient openings. Other examples present active thermography as a tool for nondestructive detection of debonding in CFRP strengthened structures. The way is explained, how the system was optimized for different materials.
Adolf Martens (18501914) was a pioneer of materials engineering. After his studies in Berlin he joined a railway company being responsible for the technical equipment. His interest for the basic mechanisms of mechanical strength and fracture of metallic materials led him to the development of the basic concepts for metallography; his papers published between 1878 and 1889 laid the fundament of this technique. In 1880 Martens changed to the Royal Industrial Academy in Berlin and by 1884 he was designated as director of the Materials Testing Laboratory at the Technical University Berlin. Under his guidance this institution acquired an excellent reputation in all relevant areas of the German industry, forming the nucleus of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) – the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing. Martens developed equipment in many different areas as mechanical testing of metallic materials and of paper, characterization of the wear behavior of materials and viscosity of lubricants. His overwhelming contribution to materials engineering was recognized as early as 1895 by Floris Osmond, who denominated martensite a metallographical constituent resulting from quenching of steels. In 2000 ISO designated the value obtained from the instrumented indentation method as Martens Hardness – HM.
Für den Entwurf neuer Bauwerke gewährleistet die Einhaltung aktuell gültiger Normenwerke eine ausreichende Sicherheit. Diese Normen und die zugehörigen Lieferbedingungen gelten ausschließlich für Neubauten aus heute produzierten Stählen. Technische Regeln für die Begutachtung alter Materialien, wie sie zuletzt im Beiblatt 2-"Altstahl im Hochbau" von 1948 zur DIN 1050 "Stahl im Hochbau" [35] verankert waren, sind zurückgezogen worden. Bei der Bewertung alter Baukonstruktionen greift man häufig auf vorhandene Materialinformationen aus Bauwerksunterlagen, Vorschriften und Berechnungen, z.B. im Verantwortungsbereich der Deutschen Bahn AG, zurück. Die geltende Richtlinie der Modulfamilie 805.001 der Deutschen Bahn AG [21] erlaubt in Abschnitt 2, Absatz (2) sogar ausdrücklich die Nutzung alter Berechnungen und Vorschriften, wenn bei gleich bleibender Nutzung nur Eingriffe von untergeordneter Bedeutung, wie kleine Reparaturen oder lokale Verstärkungen, vorgenommen werden. Ein Eingriff in die Tragsicherheit des Bauwerkes ist nicht zulässig. Für umfassendere Maßnahmen und für Bauwerke außerhalb des Zuständigkeitsbereiches der Deutschen Bahn AG oder für die Bewertung der Konstruktionen bei Umnutzung bzw. bei umfangreichen Maßnahmen ist diese Ausnahme nicht anwendbar. Daraus ergibt sich für den auf die Beurteilung und Bewertung von bestehenden Bauwerken spezialisierten Ingenieur der Bedarf, alte Materialien, Bauweisen und Vorschriften zu kennen und zu verstehen. Aufwändige Versuchsserien an originalen Vollwand- und Fachwerkträgern zur Ermittlung von Schadensmechanismen im einstufigen Ermüdungsversuch werden vorgestellt. Sie resultieren in erweiterten Kenntnissen über Versagenskriterien für genietete Bauteile. Die Weiterentwicklung und Erprobung einander ergänzender zerstörungsfreier und minimal-invasiver (zerstörungsarmer) Verfahren verbessert die Schadensfrüherkennung an ermüdungsbeanspruchten Stahlkonstruktionen, z.B. bei Inspektionen. Intensive Materialuntersuchungen zur Mikrostruktur und zu mechanischen Materialparametern tragen zum Verständnis bestimmter, für moderne Stähle untypischer, Schadensmechanismen bei. Die interdisziplinäre Kooperation mit den Laboratorien der Abteilungen V, VIII und S bei der Analyse von Rissentstehung und Risswachstum erweitert die verfügbaren Kenntnisse über das Versagensverhalten alter Stähle und Stahlverbindungen. Aufbauend auf einer Darstellung der Entwicklung alter Bauweisen und Bauwerke, einer Literatur- und Normenanalyse zu Lieferbedingungen von Stahl für das Bauwesen und zu konstruktiven Details, so wie sie um die Jahrhundertwende zwischen dem 19. und 20. Jh. üblich waren, werden Materialuntersuchungen an alten Stählen, Ermüdungsversuche und Messungen an bestehenden Brückenbauwerken aus alten Stählen präsentiert. Innerhalb des Projektes gab es eine enge Zusammenarbeit mit Brückenbetreibern, die gewährleistete, dass die Ergebnisse aus Prüfungen, Forschung und Entwicklung direkt in die Praxis, aber auch in interne Vorschriften der Brückeneigner überführt werden konnten. So wurde in der Subgroup Remaining Fatigue Life of Bridge Structures der Gruppe ECOBRIDGE der Europäischen Eisenbahn Vereinigung UIC unter Beteiligung der BAM eine Machbarkeitsstudie [1] zusammengestellt. Auf dieser Basis erarbeitete ein bilaterales Konsortium der Schweiz und Deutschlands im Auftrag der Schweizerischen Bundesbahn und der Deutschen Bahn mit Ermüdungsspezialisten der RWTH Aachen, der EPFL Lausanne und der BAM einen Vereinheitlichten Sicherheitsnachweis für die Beurteilung alter Eisenbahnbrücken aus Stahl [2]. Der Abschlussbericht liegt seit 2001 im federführenden Institut für Stahlbau der RWTH Aachen vor. Die Überführung der Forschungsergebnisse in eine Richtlinie der Europäischen Konvention für Stahlbau (EKS) mit empfehlendem Charakter liegt als Entwurf [4] vor. Die Veröffentlichung nach abschließender Begutachtung durch namhafte auf Altstahl und Ermüdung spezialisierte Fachkollegen durch die EKS ist in Vorbereitung.
The research project "Ultrasonic Net for Concrete Monitoring (UNeCOM)" aims at developing a methodology for an embedded ultrasonic network for the condition assessment of infrastructure constructions. Civil engineering structures made of concrete, which are located in tectonically active regions or undergo special loading conditions, may require continuous monitoring. It is important to assess the condition of the building and its stability to recognise and classify the effect of a seismic event or evolving damage at early stages before failure occurs. Embedded ultrasonic sensors offer the possibility to detect changes in the material and degradation mechanisms from inside the structure in areas which are difficult or impossible to inspect otherwise. In contrast to conventional ultrasonic testing methods, where the concrete surfaces are scanned with ultrasound probes, this new approach uses sensors, which are embedded into concrete, eliminating the effect of variable coupling conditions between sensors and concrete. This method allows an integral detection of changes in the concrete structure, for example due to seismic activities, to detect mechanical impacts, as well as degradation of the material due to overloading. Such methods have great relevance especially for the monitoring of constructions like power plants, bridges, offshore structures and other structures with high technical safety requirements. The sensor network can be controlled remotely through the internet which is also being used for data transfer. The embedded sensor network is designed to monitor structural damage and concrete degradation globally with high sensitivity.
Assessment of existing steel structures - A guideline for estimation of the remaining fatigue life
(2007)
Assessment of existing steel structures - A guideline for estimation of the remaining fatigue life
(2007)
In many countries and regions, traffic infrastructure projects suffer from low funding. The budget is tight for new infrastructure building and, thus, the importance of inspection, maintenance and assessment of the existing traffic infrastructure increases. A new fatigue assessment guideline for the estimation of the remaining fatigue life of steel bridges has been written by technical committee 6 of the European Convention of Constructional Steelwork (ECCS). It will be a useful tool for the complementation of bridge management systems, used commonly for condition assessment.
Design specifications and rules are harmonised throughout Europe. They are under constant development, but there is still a lack of forwarding and concentrating experiences as well as developing rules for the fatigue assessment on existing steel structures. This paper presents a guideline with a proposed fatigue assessment procedure for existing steel structures embedded in information about old materials and non-destructive testing methods for the evaluation of details (ECCS 2004, Assessment of existing steel structures). Particular attention is paid on remedial measures which are proposed for weak details and damages caused by fatigue. The developed fatigue assessment procedure can be applied to existing steel structures under cyclic loading in general, but the guideline concentrates on the existing traffic infrastructure made from old steel, because of the public importance. The proposed procedure summarizes, regroups and arranges the knowledge in the field of assessment on existing steel to be applied by practicing engineers. The procedure is a milestone in knowledge transfer from a state of scientific knowledge to state-of-the-art.
Assessment of existing steel structures - Recommendations for estimation of remaining fatigue life
(2008)
Die zunehmende Bedeutung der Nachhaltigkeit im Bauwesen wird in Zukunft das Bauen im Bestand gegenüber Neubauten in den Vordergrund rücken. Dies gilt auch für den Brückenbau, wo das Qualitätsmanagement seit langem Brücken von ihrem Entstehungsgang über den Betrieb bis in die Entsorgung begleitet.
Die starke Vergrößerung der Frachtvolumina für Straße und Schiene und die zunehmende Überalterung des Brückenbestandes fragen danach, ob die bestehenden Brücken für die veränderten Betriebsbedingungen noch geeignet sind und wie sie und ob sie dafür instandgesetzt werden könnten.
Für die erforderlichen Instandhaltungs- und Instandsetzungsmaßnahmen oder einen eventuellen Ersatz durch einen Neubau ist aber die Frage der Restnutzungsdauer von entscheidender Bedeutung. Es ist daher nicht von ungefähr, dass sich Baulast-träger auf nationaler und internationaler Ebene frühzeitig zusammengetan haben, um nach geeigneten Methoden der Bestimmung der Sicherheit und Restnutzungsdauer bestehender Brücken zu forschen. Auch die internationalen technisch-wissenschaftlichen Verbände wie EKS und fib sowie die Standard-Organisationen ISO und CEN sind der Frage eines internationalen Austauschs und der Vereinheitlichung der Methoden nachgegangen.
Für Stahlbrücken hat insbesondere das technische Komitee6 - Ermüdung - der EKS Anregungen aufgegriffen, aus den verschiedenen nationalen Erfahrungen und dem vorhandenen Wissen technische Empfehlungen für die Beurteilung bestehender Stahlbrücken zu entwickeln [1], die sich als Grundlage für die von CEN/TC 250 - das CEN-Komitee für die Bearbeitung der Eurocode - geplante Erweiterung der Eurocode zur Instandhaltung und Instandsetzung des Brückenbestandes eignen.
Das Ergebnis ist ein technisch-wissenschaftlicher Bericht, der im Rahmen der Zusammenarbeit der europäischen Kommission (DG-Research - Joint Research Centre JRC) mit der EKS als Basispapier für eine zukünftige Eurocode-Erweiterung veröffentlicht wurde und schon jetzt als Empfehlung für eine Vorgehensweise nach dem Stand der Technik verwendet werden kann.
Der vorliegende Beitrag behandelt die Grundzüge dieses Berichtes [1], der vom e-bookshop der Kommission kostenfrei herunter geladen werden kann.
Trans-European corridors for transport of people and goods require strengthening of bridges to carry increased axle loads in terms of absolute axle loads and of their frequency. Most of the bridges along highways are reinforced or prestressed concrete bridges.
Since the late 1990s, CFRP laminates have been applied to box girder and T-beam bridges to increase the overall capacity. Although regular inspections are carried out, no special method was available to test the bond condition of CFRP laminates after being in Service for more than ten years. The German Center of Competence in Civil Engineering is aware of this need and funded a research project to investigate the bond condition by means of advanced non-destructive testing (NDT).
The European infrastructure asset has developed historically and is characterized by nation-specific construction processes. Inspection, condition assessment, and maintenance procedures differ from country to country. Because of historical and political circumstances, national infrastructure assets are maintained at different levels, too. Since the budget for maintaining the bridge infrastructure less and less meets the demands of a growing bridge stock, bridge inspection, maintenance, and life-cycle considerations gain higher importance. The need exists to develop effective diagnosis tools for early detection of construction faults, defects, and deterioration processes during inspection, to keep the bridge infrastructure at an acceptable level, from structural safety and economic viewpoints. An overview on the latest research projects and integrated bridge management systems in Europe is given. The potentials of nondestructive testing (NDT) are presented, with special focus on technical advances of NDT applications to reinforced concrete (RC) and posttensioned concrete bridges. Although NDT is not regularly integrated in these processes, the application brings valuable information on the current condition of the inner structure in called-in special inspections. NDT-automation and the application of imaging echo methods, combined with advanced data processing, produce a surprising level of information about the inner structure of massive RC slabs up to a depth of about 60 cm. Detected inhomogeneity and scatterers of acoustic or electromagnetic waves can be visualized in vertical or horizontal slices through the structure or animations. The fusion of different three-dimensional data sets of processed data improves the interpretability and accuracy of the results.
The amount of new knowledge about bridges, materials they are made of, deterioration processes for the different materials, resulting defects, methods for early detection of them and related causes for damage increases day by day. Often the knowledge remains in the heads of ageing specialists leaving the inspection teams or universities. This paper presents a feasibility study about application of a new tool from artificial intelligence to model and organize bridge engineering knowledge from a domain expert´s view. Exemplarily, knowledge and not only data from bridge testing in the field and in the laboratory were formalized for the presentation of the functionality of ontologies.
Bridges represent a crucial part of traffic infrastructure networks for both, freight transport and transport of people. None the less, sometimes it is not easy for infrastructure owners to manage or extract data and knowledge of interest about specific bridges from bridge management systems, e.g. along a line. In case of search for a special material parameter or for a recent strengthening measure, the selection of the wanted information may be time consuming. The search process depends on the complexity of the selected issue.
The paper presents the applicability of ontologies, a new tool from artificial intelligence transferred to bridge engineering issues. Current modern ontologies consider the rules from the World Wide Web consortium (W3C), use a defined Web Ontology Language (OWL) and the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI®) to describe the members of a domain and the relations between them in a machine readable manor. Any information, data as well as text information is broken down to a simple triple (RDF) in a subject- predicate- object relation to organize the link between them. Advantage over any type of data base is processibility due to the use of restrictions and axioms. Visualization plug-ins, as OntoGraph or GraphViz, can visualize the structure of the ontology or parts of it and the described relations.
In the recent years, ontology editors like e.g. Protégé, were developed to enable domain experts to structure a specific domain. The editor is still under development. None the less, the study shows exemplarily, how an ontology for riveted steel bridges could consider results from testing in the laboratory and in the field. Besides typical materials, typical damage processes defects and structures, applicable methods are formalized, classified and described. Queries using e.g. DL-Query may address tasks of interest and extract it from the ontology.
The amount of new knowledge about bridges, about the materials they are made of, deterioration processes for the different materials, typical defects, methods for early detection of them and related causes for damage increases day by day. Often the knowledge remains in the heads of ageing specialists leaving the inspection teams or universities. This paper presents a feasibility study about application of a new tool from artificial in-telligence, ontology, for modeling and organizing bridge engineering knowledge from a domain expert´s view. Exemplarily, knowledge and not only data from bridge testing in the field and in the laboratory were formalized for the presentation of the functionality of ontologies. The open source ontology editor Protégé was ap-plied to test the feasibility.
The amount of new knowledge about bridges, about the materials they are made of, deterioration processes for the different materials, typical defects, methods for early detection of them and related causes for damage increases day by day. Often the knowledge remains in the heads of ageing specialists leaving the inspection teams or universities. This paper presents a feasibility study about application of a new tool from artificial in-telligence, ontology, for modeling and organizing bridge engineering knowledge from a domain expert´s view. Exemplarily, knowledge and not only data from bridge testing in the field and in the laboratory were formalized for the presentation of the functionality of ontologies. The open source ontology editor Protégé was ap-plied to test the feasibility.
Cast iron arch bridges were built in the late 18th and early 19th century across Europe. After the famous Iron Bridge in the Ironbridge Gorge in Coalbrookdale in England, being now part of the UNESCO world heritage, many cast iron bridges followed and substituted timber bridges. A series of cast iron bridges has been built in central Europe, in Laasan, Breslau, (now Wrocław), in Berlin, Potsdam, Bad Muskau and Schwerin. The paper gives an overview about the current state of some remaining cast iron arch bridges, typical damage cases, material properties and rehabilitation. Most of the old cast iron arch bridges serve as pedestrian bridges. Some of these bridges have been strengthened to increase the traffic load. Different rehabilitation measures as substitution of parts of the bridges and strengthening using Carbon Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) are discussed.
Cast iron arch bridges were built in the late 18th and early 19th century across Europe. After the famous Iron Bridge in the Ironbridge Gorge in Coalbrookdale in England, being now part of the UNESCO world heritage, many cast iron bridges followed and substituted timber bridges. A series of cast iron bridges has been built in central Europe, in Laasan, Breslau, (now Wrocław), in Berlin, Potsdam, Bad Muskau and Schwerin. The paper gives an overview about the current state of some remaining cast iron arch bridges, typical damage cases, material properties and rehabilitation. Most of the old cast iron arch bridges serve as pedestrian bridges. Some of these bridges have been strengthened to increase the traffic load. Different rehabilitation measures as substitution of parts of the bridges and strengthening using Carbon Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) are discussed.
CHEF provides knowledge about flood protection of cultural heritage objects and directly supports the European Floods Directive by giving recommendations on how to assess the vulnerability of monuments. A comprehensive analysis of protective measures BEFORE, DURING and AFTER a flood has been carried out within the project, including technical and administrational measures. An overview of these measures is given, followed by recommendations on how to establish the most effective protective strategies.
Concrete railway bridges - taxonomy of degradation mechanisms and damages identified by NDT methods
(2006)
Condition assessment of old railway bridges, a scientific cooperation between Berlin and Wroclaw
(2009)
Two years ago, the East Prussian and the Low-Silesian Railway lines celebrated their 160th anniversaries. The history of both first railway connections in the Eastern railway network development in the whole region in the 19th century is presented together with information about the railway between Berlin and Wroclaw. Special attention is paid to the railway bridges built in this period. The first large iron bridges and typical masonry arch structures are presented. Special attention is paid to masonry arches. The condition appraisal of existing masonry arches requires new developed technical methodologies, effective tools and procedures for the description of the bridges current state and function. Their current technical condition as well as service-ability is described.
Condition assessment of old railway bridges, a scientific cooperation between Berlin and Wroclaw
(2009)
The vulnerability of low-quality concrete of some bridges to ageing and deterioration while they are exposed to environmental conditions during their service life, influence of growing population and climate changes, is a well-known effect and requires survey. For survey, the development of a low cost, cost-efficient sensor network to be embedded for continuous or attached to the surface for periodic monitoring is essential.
Changing ground water conditions, flood or even leakage in fresh or disposal of waste water can lead to in-creased moisture content in building materials and structural elements as walls or floors. Moisture allows the transport of other adverse chemicals that might reduce the durability of structures. The paper presents a feasibility study about the capability of microwave modules as bluetooth® or ZigBee with frequency range at 2,4 GHz to create advanced Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) for estimation and visualization of moisture distribution in infrastructure assets. It was found that the value of the received signal strength indication (RSSI) depends on the moisture content and can be the basis for the moisture distribution inside a massive structure.
The microwave modules may be used to compose networks outside and inside of building materials or structural elements. The higher the number of connections between BLE modules, the more precise and the more distant information can be obtained from the network. Mesh networking was applied to increase the quantitative information.
The construction process of the New Berlin Main Station, the former Lehrter Bahnhof, has been monitored from the beginning. In this station, the main European east-western railway connection crosses the northsouth railway lines. Four east-western bridges, built in the first construction phase, carry the platforms for international lines and suburban train tracks. The outer two bridges carry the supports of the relatively flat glass roof, too. Since the glass roof is very sensitive to vertical displacements, the authorities required a complex monitoring system. This case study describes long-term measurements with classical and enhanced innovative sensors to monitor vertical displacements of neighboring glass roof supports. Additionally, traditional strain gauges were embedded parallel to long-gauge length fiber-optic strain sensors in the near-surface concrete of the partial prestressed bridges to reliably survey possible changes.
The measurements on site go along with long-term laboratory tests on prestressed concrete beams. Researchers study load effects and long-term environmental influences on two large-scale model beams, inside and outside the laboratory.
The monitoring system has been working stable as an early warning system for any changes of the structural conditions since 2002. All data are available on line for both the project team and the owner.
Cracks perpendicular to the surface may be initial indicators for a deterioration process of concrete structures. Moisture penetrates inside the structure and transports adverse chemicals. The paper presents an investigation about the reliability of available commercial non-destructive evaluation techniques to reliably estimate the depth of surface-breaking cracks in reinforced concrete structures. Aim of the study was the investigation of surface-braking cracks under laboratory conditions. Commercial acoustic devices as impact echo equipment, single ultrasonic transducers and arrays were applied even if they have not been developed for this purpose. The commercial software and descriptions for application was followed strictly to compare the function, precision and repeatability of the measurements. Both, perpendicular notches and cracks have been considered. The study was completed with a discussion about reference specimens. The study was the basis for formulation of gaps in research. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) has initiated and funded a Project.
Dokumentation von Ermüdungsversuchen an genieteten Querträgern einer schweißeisernen Trogbrücke
(2001)
Ermüdungsversuche an alten genieteten Stahlbrücken: Beurteilung der verbleibenden Restnutzungsdauer von Querträgern einer originalen schweißeisernen Trogbrücke nach fast einhundert jähriger Nutzung. Verbindungen und Elemente des alten Bauwerks sind zunächst unter Verkehr und nach dem Abriss der Brücke im Labor getestet worden. Es kamen sowohl Dehnungsmessungen als auch zerstörungsarme bzw. Zerstörungsfreie Prüfverfahren zur Anwendung. Materialuntersuchungen, auch neuartige, wie z. B. Rissfortschrittversuche, Gefügeuntersuchungen und Zugversuche ergänzten die Untersuchungen.
The book chapter first analyses the history of higher education in Europe. Second step describes the current Bologna process. Finally, the rule of the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -Prüfung (BAM) in supporting PhD-students during their research and preparation of theire theses in cooperation with Universities is described
This feasibility study presents how the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of a Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) signal, transmitted from the BLE-module embedded in building materials with changing moisture content, is damped. The BLE-module (TRANSMITTER) communicates with a mobile Smart Device as tablet or mobile phone (RECEIVER) [Fig. 1]. The measured RSSI indicates to what extend the received signal strength is changed due to moisture, while the transmitted signal strength remains constant.
Structural health monitoring contributes to early damage detection in the built infrastructure. During the last two decades, the sensor networks transferred from wired to wireless sensor networks.
Several methods exist to measure moisture in building materials. Most of the introduced commercial humidity measurement methods as provide information about the local or near surface moisture. A feasibility study is presented to demonstrate, how the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of a BlueTooth® Low Energy (BLE) signal, transmitted from the BLE-module embedded in building materials with changing moisture content. The BLE-module communicates with a mobile Smart Device as tablet or mobile phone. The RSSI indicates to what extend the received signal strength is changed due to moisture, while the transmitted signal strength remains constant.
Structural health monitoring contributes to early damage detection in the built infrastructure. During the last two decades, sensor networks transferred from wired to wireless sensor networks. Several methods exist to measure moisture in building materials. Most of the introduced commercial moisture measurement methods provide information about the local or near surface moisture. A feasibility study is presented to demonstrate, how the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) signal, transmitted from the BLE-module embedded in building materials, correlate with changing moisture content. The feasibility of this influence was investigated in the presented study. The maximum and minimum RSSI were systematically recorded and analysed.
The presented development of a damping model is a research component of an experimental feasibility study about moisture in building materials measured with Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) signals. This study may be part of a structural health monitoring aiming on early damage detection in the built infrastructure and is increasingly focusing on wireless sensor Network technology. It is investigated, how the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of a BLE signal, transmitted from the BLE-module embedded in building materials with changing moisture content is damped. The BLE-module communicates with a mobile Smart Device as tablet or mobile phone via 2.45 GHz-ISMfrequency band where water dipoles start to oscillate. If the BLE-signal transfers through a moist material, the moisture Content influences the RSS-Indicator. The damping model demonstrates this damping effect on RSSI by the abstraction of the reality observed in a real system.
The presented development of a damping model is a research component of an experimental feasibility study about moisture in building materials measured with Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) signals. This study may be part of a structural health- and long-term monitoring aiming at early damage detection in the built infrastructure and is increasingly focusing on wireless sensor network technology. It is investigated, how the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) of a BLE signal, transmitted from the BLE-module embedded in building materials with changing moisture content is damped. The aim of the modelling is the derivation of a damping equation for the formal model to determine the moisture damping exponent to finding a correlation.
In this article, we present a laboratory experiment to monitor the accelerated corrosion in concrete using ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Four concrete test specimens were cast with rebars of different size and placed at different depths. The lifetime decades of reinforcement corrosion process were accelerated into 18 days by using the impress current technique. The electrochemical corrosion process was periodically monitored with GPR. Two control specimens were also prepared to investigate the influence of chloride contamination on GPR signal. The measured data were analysed both in time and frequency domains. In time domain, the peak-to-peak amplitude of a wave reflected by a rebar was calculated to investigate the relationship between an increase in signal amplitude and the degree of corrosion. In frequency domain, the time–frequency representations of the signal were computed by using S-transform. The results show that reinforce corrosion increased the amplitude of reflected signal in time domain but did not change the peak frequency in frequency domain while chloride contamination attenuates the signal to smaller amplitude and lower peak frequency. Based on the results, a novel process is finally proposed for GPR-based corrosion detection.
Current measurement methods for dertermination of moisture analyse near-surface moisture distribution. During an externally funded research project, microwaves in the Bluetooth(R) frequency band width were utilized for Setting-up a module network. Without additional sensors, the feasibility study confirmed that threedimensional data can collected to obtain a threedimensional data set as basis for the estimation of moisture distribution inside massive building materials.
Die Langzeitüberwachung von Bauteilen (Structural Health Monitoring, SHM) ging in den letzten Jahren zunehmend von verkabelten Sensoren zu kabellosen Sensornetzwerken (WSN) über. Frühwarnsysteme sollen rechtzeitige Signale senden, wenn Schädigungsprozesse einsetzen, wenn ein Bauteil z. B. zu feucht wird (Deiche, Staumauern), oder wenn Feuchteprozesse in Bauteilen auftreten, die den Transport von schädlichen Stoffen ermöglichen. Mittels handelsüblicher multifunktionaler Sensoren wie einem Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wurden erste Machbarkeitsuntersuchungen zur Massenfeuchtemessung durchgeführt. Die untersuchten Parameter sind der sogenannte Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) eines Bluetooth-Low-Energy(BLE)-Signals und die abgestrahlte Sendeleistung eines eingebetteten BLE-Moduls. Das BLE-Modul kommuniziert mit einem mobilen smarten Empfänger wie einem Tablet oder einem Smartphone als SmartHub. Die Veränderung des RSS-Indikators ist ein Maß für die Veränderung der Feuchte im Bauteil, während die ausgesandte Signalstärke konstant bleibt. Wenn das BLE-Signal einen feuchten Bereich im Baumaterial durchläuft, verändert sich der RSS-Indikator. Nach erfolgreicher Machbarkeitsstudie wurde nun ein aus dem Netzwerk MI4G (Modern Industry for Germany) zwischen der Bundesanstalt für Materialprüfung und dem Klein- und mittelständigen Unternehmen LinTech GmbH heraus beantragtes ZIM-Projekt bewilligt. Der Bericht zeigt erste Ergebnisse von Voruntersuchungen und gibt einen Ausblick auf weitere Forschungsaktivitäten.
Within the presented research project, experimental and numerical investigations were performed to develop a thin-shelled, modular, mobile element system made of a micro-reinforced ultra-high-performance ductile concrete (DUCON®). Material parameters were experimentally determined to adapt the material model within the numerical analysis applying the Drucker-Prager relationship. Afterwards, for validation of the numerical models, quasi-static and high-velocity impact tests were performed on plate-like structures. Finally, a suitable geometry of transportable barrier elements will be designed, which provides a maximum of resistance against impact by a minimum of weight and a maximum of mobility.
Within the presented research project, experimental and numerical investigations were performed to develop a thin-shelled, modular, mobile element system made of a micro-reinforced ultra-high-performance ductile concrete (DUCON®). Material parameters were experimentally determined to adapt the material model within the numerical analysis applying the Drucker-Prager relationship. Afterwards, for validation of the numerical models, quasi-static and high-velocity impact tests were performed on plate-like structures. Finally, a suitable geometry of transportable barrier elements will be designed, which provides a maximum of resistance against impact by a minimum of weight and a maximum of mobility.
Inspection of steel bridges
(2007)
Civil engineers, who are involved in nondestructive testing have to solve an essential task: the transfer of the results of NDT-research into practice. NDT in civil Engineering is a quite new discipline. The results must meet the needs of the infrastructure owners to convince them about the usefulness of NDT. The issue of reliability of the NDT-data was discussed.
Laboratory model test for monitoring the new main railway station of Berlin - The Lehrter Bahnhof
(2002)
The Berlin Main Station was built between 2000 and 2006. At the occasion of the 10th anniversary after the Berlin Main Station was officially opened to train traffic, a view back on eight years of monitoring was given. For the period of the construction with different load cases, the monitoring system was required by the Railway Authorities (Eisenbahnbundesam, EBA) to survey differential vertical displacements between neighbouring supports of the glas roof and the partially prestressed middle bridges. 128 sensors were installed.The data was published in the Internet with access restricted to the BAM scientists and the owner of the station, the German Railways DB AG.
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.
A new method for periodically monitoring reinforcement corrosion in concrete with Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) is proposed and a ten-year long-term corrosion periodic monitoring experiment is reported. GPR historical data was taken in different years, under different conditions. In order to align and normalize the obtained images properly prior to effectively performing any automatic defect detection, image registration techniques based on mutual-information are employed, and a new signal processing scheme is proposed for normalizing the intensity of GPR images. Then, the processed image results can be used to compare and find out the change of GPR detection due to corrosion.
Measurements, NDT and laboratory testing of the wrought iron bridge at Berlin-Friedrichstraße
(2010)
Messungen und Laborversuche an der schweißeisernen Spreebrücke an der Berliner Friedrichstraße
(2010)
Monitoring accelerated corrosion in chloride contaminated concrete with ground penetrating radar
(2012)
Complex special inspection of an old masonry arch bridge according to the Guideline on Inspection and Condition Assessment of Railway Bridges and numerical analysis of the structure are presented. The guideline summarises recommendations for the step-by-step investigation of railway bridges applying enhanced methods developed during the EU-funded project Sustainable Bridges. For the investigation of the arch barrel, the ballast parameters and the inner structure of the backfill behind the arch barrel a number of various advanced non-destructive and minor-destructive testing methods were applied. Deformation of the structure during load tests was measured using three independent measuring systems: laser vibrometer, LVDT and microwave radar. Results of calculations performed with 2D and 3D models based on FEM are compared with the field load tests. Sensitivity of the ultimate load of the structure to investigated parameters is studied in FE model. Some general conclusions according to methods of testing and modelling of masonry arch bridges are presented and discussed.
Complex special inspection of an old masonry arch bridge according to the Guideline on Inspection and Condition Assessment of Railway Bridges and numerical analysis of the structure are presented. The guideline summarises recommendations for the step-by-step investigation of railway bridges applying enhanced methods developed during the EU-funded project Sustainable Bridges. For the investigation of the arch barrel, the ballast parameters and the inner structure of the backfill behind the arch barrel a number of various advanced non-destructive and minor-destructive testing methods were applied. Deformation of the structure during load tests was measured using three independent measuring systems: laser vibrometer, LVDT and microwave radar. Results of calculations performed with 2D and 3D models based on FEM are compared with the field load tests. Sensitivity of the ultimate load of the structure to investigated parameters is studied in FE model. Some general conclusions according to methods of testing and modelling of masonry arch bridges are presented and discussed.