Large-scale structural monitoring systems

Ian Solomon; James Cunnane; Paul Stevenson

doi:10.1117/12.387820

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9 June 2000 Large-scale structural monitoring systems

Ian Solomon, James Cunnane, Paul Stevenson

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Proceedings Volume 3995, Nondestructive Evaluation of Highways, Utilities, and Pipelines IV; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.387820
Event: SPIE's 5th Annual International Symposium on Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring of Aging Infrastructure, 2000, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

Extensive structural health instrumentation systems have been installed on three long-span cable-supported bridges in Hong Kong. The quantities measured include environment and applied loads (such as wind, temperature, seismic and traffic loads) and the bridge response to these loadings (accelerations, displacements, and strains). Measurements from over 1000 individual sensors are transmitted to central computing facilities via local data acquisition stations and a fault- tolerant fiber-optic network, and are acquired and processed continuously. The data from the systems is used to provide information on structural load and response characteristics, comparison with design, optimization of inspection, and assurance of continued bridge health. Automated data processing and analysis provides information on important structural and operational parameters. Abnormal events are noted and logged automatically. Information of interest is automatically archived for post-processing. Novel aspects of the instrumentation system include a fluid-based high-accuracy long-span Level Sensing System to measure bridge deck profile and tower settlement. This paper provides an outline of the design and implementation of the instrumentation system. A description of the design and implementation of the data acquisition and processing procedures is also given. Examples of the use of similar systems in monitoring other large structures are discussed.

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Ian Solomon, James Cunnane, and Paul Stevenson "Large-scale structural monitoring systems", Proc. SPIE 3995, Nondestructive Evaluation of Highways, Utilities, and Pipelines IV, (9 June 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.387820

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