Wireless surface acoustic wave sensors for displacement and crack monitoring in concrete structures

In this work, we demonstrate that wireless surface acoustic wave devices can be used to monitor millimetre displacements in crack opening during the cyclic and static loading of reinforced concrete structures. Sensors were packaged to extend their gauge length and to protect them against brittle fracture, before being surface-mounted onto the tensioned surface of a concrete beam. The accuracy of measurements was verified using computational methods and opticalfibre strain sensors. After packaging, the displacement and temperature resolutions of the surface acoustic wave sensors were 10 μm and 2°C respectively. With some further work, these devices could be retrofitted to existing concrete structures to facilitate wireless structural health monitoring.

[1]  V. Kalinin,et al.  Passive wireless strain and temperature sensors based on SAW devices , 2004, Proceedings. 2004 IEEE Radio and Wireless Conference (IEEE Cat. No.04TH8746).

[2]  Wei Li,et al.  Intelligent tires based on wireless passive surface acoustic wave sensors , 2004, Proceedings. The 7th International IEEE Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (IEEE Cat. No.04TH8749).

[3]  Keigo Iizawa,et al.  Temperature Stability of Surface Acoustic Wave Resonators on In-Plane Rotated 33° Y-Cut Quartz , 2003 .

[4]  Donald C. Malocha,et al.  A Passive Wireless Multi-Sensor SAW Technology Device and System Perspectives , 2013, Sensors.

[5]  Christopher K.Y. Leung,et al.  Investigation of the strain transfer for surface-attached optical fiber strain sensors , 2008 .

[6]  Billie F. Spencer,et al.  Smart sensing technology: opportunities and challenges , 2004 .

[7]  Jun Kondoh,et al.  Surface Acoustic Wave Sensors , 2004 .

[8]  Jerome P. Lynch,et al.  A summary review of wireless sensors and sensor networks for structural health monitoring , 2006 .

[9]  B. Glisic,et al.  Influence of the gauge length on the accuracy of long-gauge sensors employed in monitoring of prismatic beams , 2011 .

[10]  D. Weidner,et al.  Structure and elastic properties of quartz at pressure , 1980 .

[11]  Frank Möller,et al.  Saw resonator temperature sensor , 1992 .

[12]  S. Sarma,et al.  RFID Tag Antenna-Based Sensing for Pervasive Surface Crack Detection , 2013, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[13]  Billie F. Spencer,et al.  Bridge monitoring using wireless smart sensors , 2011 .

[14]  T. K. Gangopadhyay,et al.  Fibre Bragg gratings in structural health monitoring—Present status and applications , 2008 .

[15]  U. Wolff,et al.  SAW sensors for harsh environments , 2001, IEEE Sensors Journal.

[16]  James L Noland,et al.  Computer-Aided Structural Engineering (CASE) Project: Decision Logic Table Formulation of ACI (American Concrete Institute) 318-77 Building Code Requirements for Reinforced Concrete for Automated Constraint Processing. Volume 1. , 1986 .

[17]  Jerome Peter Lynch,et al.  An overview of wireless structural health monitoring for civil structures , 2007, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences.

[18]  K. Hill,et al.  Fiber Bragg grating technology fundamentals and overview , 1997 .

[19]  Matthew P. Kotowsky.  Wireless Sensor Networks for Monitoring Cracks in Structures , 2010 .

[20]  Chuji Wang,et al.  Fiber Loop Ringdown Sensor for Potential Real-Time Monitoring of Cracks in Concrete Structures: An Exploratory Study , 2012, Sensors.

[21]  Alison B. Flatau,et al.  Review Paper: Health Monitoring of Civil Infrastructure , 2003 .

[22]  Richard M. White,et al.  New Prospects for Acoustic Sensors: an Overview , 1987, 41st Annual Symposium on Frequency Control.

[23]  Vijay K. Varadan,et al.  Microsensors, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), and electronics for smart structures and systems , 2000 .

[24]  Charles S. Whitney,et al.  Design of Reinforced Concrete Members Under Flexure or Combined Flexure and Direct Compression , 1937 .

[25]  W. Buff.  SAW sensors for direct and remote measurement , 2002, 2002 IEEE Ultrasonics Symposium, 2002. Proceedings..

[26]  B. Drafts.  Acoustic wave technology sensors , 2001 .

[27]  Jinping Ou,et al.  Review: optical fiber sensors for civil engineering applications , 2015 .

[28]  Hyuk-Jin Yoon,et al.  The mechanical strength of fiber Bragg gratings under controlled UV laser conditions , 2007 .

[29]  K. J. Vinoy,et al.  Wireless health monitoring of cracks in structures with MEMS-IDT sensors , 2002, SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring.

[30]  Michele Magno,et al.  Power management techniques for Wireless Sensor Networks: A review , 2013, 5th IEEE International Workshop on Advances in Sensors and Interfaces IWASI.

[31]  Robert Weigel,et al.  Wireless identification and sensing using surface acoustic wave devices , 1999 .

[32]  T. Parker,et al.  Tensile Fracture Strength of ST Cut Quartz , 1983 .