Abstract
Wireless sensors for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an emerging new technology that promises to overcome many disadvantages pertinent to conventional, wired sensors. The broad field of SHM has experienced significant growth over the past two decades, with several notable developments in the area of sensors such as piezoelectric sensors and optical fibre sensors. Although significant improvements have been made on damage monitoring techniques using these smart sensors, wiring remains a significant challenge to the practical implementation of these technologies. Wireless SHM has recently attracted the attention of researchers towards un-powered and more effective passive wireless sensors. This article presents a review of some of the underlying technologies in the field of wireless sensors for SHM - with a focus on the research progress towards the development of simple, powerless, yet effective and robust wireless damage detection sensors. This review examines the development of passive wireless sensors in two different categories: (1) use of oscillating circuits with the help of inductors, capacitors and resistors for damage detection; and (2) use of antennas, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and metamaterial resonators as strain sensors for wireless damage monitoring. An assessment of these electromagnetic techniques is presented and the key issues involved in their respective design configurations are discussed.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, the field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has attracted considerable research
When the sensors detect any change in strain or stress, they need to transfer the information, for signal processing and analysis, to the data acquisition system which may be located at the base station far away from the structure being monitored
A rectangular microstrip patch antenna fabricated using this technique was shown to be capable of measuring strain of up to 15% repeatedly based on the change in the strength of radio frequency (RF) signals emitted by the proposed antenna when connected to an Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter
Summary
Over the past few decades, the field of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has attracted considerable research. Researchers have begun investigating alternative techniques to enable the sensor system to become completely wireless and passive; where the power is supplied by external sources wirelessly and the sensor transmits the signals wirelessly back to the base station (Spencer, Ruiz-Sandoval, & Kurata, 2004). In this regard, researchers have demonstrated sensor systems which can detect damage and monitor the structure effectively with less power consumption or completely wireless. This article aims to review the current state of the art and progress towards the development of effective and simple passive wireless damage monitoring techniques
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
