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- Structural health monitoring (11)
- RFID sensors (9)
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- Wireless sensors (4)
- Energy harvesting (3)
- Sensor requirements (3)
- Transmission characteristics (3)
Organisationseinheit der BAM
In the near future, it will be important to adopt innovative approaches and technologies in order to further guarantee the reliability and availability of the highway network. New tools are therefore needed in order 'to obtain in-depth information about the condition of bridges and its development early enough before significant, precarious damage cases occur. In 2011, the research program "Intelligente Brücken (Smart Bridges)" was launched by the BASt together with the BMVI to evolve systems for information and holistic evaluation for bridge structures as a supplement to the current inspection-based maintenance management. Several projects dealt with the topic in the last few years and provided guidelines and a solid basis to move towards a first implementation considering the input of all research projects carried out so far.
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.
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.
To quantify the moisture in concrete, RFID based humidity sensors are embedded. Passive high frequency, ultra-high frequency RFID tags as well as active Bluetooth sensors are tested. After concreting, all sensors measure the corresponding relative humidity to monitor the concrete moisture. Two case studies are performed, embedding in an existing construction, i.e. the duraBASt test bridge, and embedding in cement based mortar in the laboratory. As basis for robust and long-life sensors in alkaline concrete, different casing materials are tested. Furthermore, signal strength measurements and their sensitivity to different moisture levels are performed.
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.
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.
Damages in infrastructure due to moisture amount to billions of Euros every year. For a more predictive structural health monitoring in civil engineering, the detection and monitoring of hazardous moisture in steel reinforced concrete constructions is of high interest. The sensors have to be wireless, elsewise they weaken the concrete cover of the rebars. The lifetime of such constructions is normally decades, thus the sensors have to be battery-free and fully passive. Considering these requirements, passive RFID-based sensors are developed. Communication and energy supply are realized wireless via the electromagnetic field of a RFID transmitter. The passive RFIDbased sensors are embedded into the concrete to enable the monitoring of moisture transport in porous materials. Results of the hydration process are shown.
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) has become very important in today's rapidly developing time. High buildings, large bridges and complex technical structures need to be monitored continuously and this over long periods.
Visual monitoring cannot evaluate the internal condition of building structures. Thus, material embedded sensors are needed. Cable connection of these sensors pose the disadvantage of weak spots and water intrusion. For concrete embedded sensors the use of batteries is not convenient, because of limited lifetime, difficult charging, and generation of electrical waste.. Hence, monitoring should be implemented preferentially with firmly embedded passive RFID sensor modules. However, since the concrete structure forms an electromagnetically reflective and absorbing barrier, only limited energy can be transmitted to the module. This project requires a highly energy-saving system, which can record different sensor parameters at critical points.