Hardware design of hierarchal active-sensing networks for structural health monitoring

Abstract

This paper presents the use of relay-based hardware in conjunction with piezoelectricactive-sensing techniques for structural health monitoring in large-scale structures. In manyareas of active sensing technology, hundreds, even thousands, of sensors/actuators areneeded to truly make health monitoring feasible in a real-world environment. Becauseinterrogating such a large number of sensors is both time and cost prohibitive, it becomesnecessary to develop a hardware system that can quickly and efficiently interrogate largenumbers of the active sensors. In this work, we have developed a relay-based hardware thatcan serve as both a multiplexer and general-purpose signal router with specialconsideration given to piezoelectric active-sensing health monitoring approaches. We havealso implemented this device as an expandable design that allows for easy scalabilitydepending upon the size of the structure. Therefore, by using this hardware in conjunctionwith a centralized monitoring station, any number of sensors can be monitored effectively.Preliminary testing of this hardware on a test structure has experimentally proven thefeasibility and advantages. This paper summarizes the hardware design, scalability,and useful advantages given today’s structural health monitoring techniques.