New System of Structural Health Monitoring

Ahmed Gamal, Adel ElSafty, Gerald Merckel

School of Engineering, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, USA.

DOI: 10.4236/ojce.2013.31004                

Abstract

Monitoring of structures is an important challenge faced by researchers worldwide. This study developed a new structural health monitoring system which utilized the use of microprocessors, wireless communication, transducer, and cellular transmission that allows remote monitoring. The developed system will facilitate the monitoring process at any time and in any location with less human interference. The system is equipped with data processing subsystem which works on detection of structural behavior irregularity, defects, and potential failures. The system was tested using strain gages to measure the developed strains in different applications and structural models. The results developed using the new system showed that the generated readings from the system followed correctly the expected trend according to structural concepts. The developed system accomplished the desired features of lower cost, less power, reduced size, flexibility and easier implementation, remote accessing, early detection of problems, and simplified representation of the results.

Keywords

Health Monitoring; Wireless; Cellular; Data Processing; Structures

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

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