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Coda Wave Interferometry has been used in Geophysics to detect weak changes in scattering media. Past research in Structural Health Monitoring has shown that this methodology can be applied to concrete structures to detect material changes by calculation of relative velocity changes. Successive measurements with embedded ultrasonic transducers provide a repeatable signal for reliable long-term monitoring of concrete. To research the application in real-world structures, we have embedded ultrasonic transducers in a bridge in Ulm and a Metro station in Munich, Germany. This study gives an overview of the monitoring of these two structures. The results show the potential and challenges of the method. Data evaluation can be largely automated to gain insights into material changes and other influences on the structure, such as traffic-induced load and temperature variations. The experiments demonstrate the ease of installation, longevity of the sensor installation, and sensitivity of the measurement technique, but highlight problems with the application, especially if electromagnetic noise affects data quality. As no confirmed substantial damage was recorded during the monitoring period on both structures, we evaluate load tests to investigate the effect of static load on the structures and the coda monitoring results. The experiments show that the influence of load can be detected, even if the temperature influence is not removed from the data. This indicates that online damage detection with coda monitoring is possible, but further research on damage detection in real-world structures has to be conducted to confirm laboratory findings.
Ultrasound measurements in concrete are a well-known technique in civil engineering and non-destructive testing.
For consistent monitoring of a concrete structure, the common techniques, using external sensors can often not provide the appropriate degree of repeatability, as the surface of structures changes, and comparable coupling conditions cannot be guaranteed when a measurement is repeated after some time. By embedding ultrasound transducers in concrete, we aim to develop a strategy for long-term monitoring of infrastructure, especially bridges, as a supplement and extension to other techniques. Applying the so-called coda wave interferometry to these measurements we can detect subtle changes in the medium far beyond the Resolution limit of traditional time of flight methods. A smart sensor layout enables cost-efficient sensing of the entire area of interest.
Embedding the transducers might remove uncertainties like coupling or positioning changes, while other challenges remain.
Temperature and moisture content influence the structure and the transducers. These drifts need to be recorded and removed and good coupling must be ensured while not being able to visually inspect the sensor. In a multidisciplinary research group funded by the German Research Foundation, we aim to solve these problems on the way towards an ultrasound monitoring system for reinforced concrete structures. In various experiments in the lab and field, we determine the influence of temperature variations on the measurements and the equipment. As the monitoring task is the detection of irreversible damages - not reversible changes - a smart system requires a smart way of discrimination between permanent damages and reversible changes. With the data collected in these experiments, we present an approach to an environmental correction to ultrasound data to avoid a
misinterpretation of these environmental changes as damage indicators.
Active ultrasonic monitoring with coda wave interferometry has demonstrated its potential for structural Health monitoring in concrete structures. This study investigates its application using ultrasonic transducers embedded in the ceiling of a subway station in Munich, Germany. We evaluate the impact of environmental conditions, specifically electromagnetic interference and temperature, on data quality, as well as the influence of regular loading from passing trams. Results indicate that electromagnetic interference significantly affects measurements, while temperature effects remain minimal due to the station’s stable thermal environment. Long-term measurements and a controlled load test show that both dynamic and static loading from trams induce ultrasonic velocity changes of only 0.01%–0.06%. Although the experiment demonstrates the capacity to detect structural responses and supports the feasibility of long-term monitoring, improved electromagnetic shielding and Hardware reliability are required for successful future applications.