Abstract
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is essential to identifying problems that may cause human and material losses produced by disastrous and unexpected structural failures. The dynamic characterization of civil structures adopting SHM systems provides, at a particular moment, accurate information about the current structural response. When considering a proper SHM strategy and affordable economic investment for the maintenance required by structures, it is possible to safeguard the original structural parameters and avoid potential failures. However, traditional SHM systems are not desirable due to the large economic investments involved and demand for exhausting fieldwork. This research presents the design, implementation, and validation of a low-cost SHM system composed of a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) and a base station in order to identify dynamic properties from the measured structural response. A set of small- and full-scale experimental tests were conducted to validate the WSN system using a wired traditional SHM system. Vibration data recorded through the low-cost SHM system were processed and compared to determine the natural frequencies, mode shapes, and damping properties of different structures by computing modal identification techniques, frequency analysis, and logarithmic decrement. The obtained dynamic characterization results from small- and full-scale experimental testing conclude that the low-cost SHM system can reliably identify the dynamic properties of the tested structures. This proposal provides an inexpensive, functional, and innovative alternative for SHM regarding traditional monitoring systems.
Highlights
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) aims to identify the response of a structural or mechanical system to detect and assess the severity of any damage caused by natural hazard events and ambient conditions in the short-term and long-term [1,2]
This paper proposes the design, implementation, and validation of a low-cost SHM system capable of measuring the structural responses and identifying the dynamic properties of different structural systems using inexpensive technological devices and standard dynamical identification techniques
The results reached from shaking table tests and flexible structure monitoring are introduced below to evaluate the performance of the low-cost SHM system for small-scale experimentation
Summary
Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) aims to identify the response of a structural or mechanical system to detect and assess the severity of any damage caused by natural hazard events and ambient conditions in the short-term and long-term [1,2]. Structural failures, material deterioration, and the influence of loading patterns such as winds, earthquakes, and hurricanes, are factors that undermine the structural health condition and increase uncertainties about the performance and safety of engineering infrastructure [3]. For these reasons, it is essential to grasp how civil structures respond over time in order to make preventive and appropriate decisions, preserving the welfare of these engineering projects. This paper proposes the design, implementation, and validation of a low-cost SHM system capable of measuring the structural responses and identifying the dynamic properties of different structural systems using inexpensive technological devices and standard dynamical identification techniques. The development of the low-cost SHM system represents a relevant contribution to interdisciplinary research between SHM and electronic communications
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
