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Title: Application of an automated wireless structural monitoring system for long-span suspension bridges

Journal Article · · AIP Conference Proceedings
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3582777· OSTI ID:21511635
;  [1];  [2]; ;  [3]
  1. Department of Civil and Environ. Eng., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (United States)
  2. SC Solutions, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 (United States)
  3. California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Sacramento, CA 95816 (United States)

This paper describes an automated wireless structural monitoring system installed at the New Carquinez Bridge (NCB). The designed system utilizes a dense network of wireless sensors installed in the bridge but remotely controlled by a hierarchically designed cyber-environment. The early efforts have included performance verification of a dense network of wireless sensors installed on the bridge and the establishment of a cellular gateway to the system for remote access from the internet. Acceleration of the main bridge span was the primary focus of the initial field deployment of the wireless monitoring system. An additional focus of the study is on ensuring wireless sensors can survive for long periods without human intervention. Toward this end, the life-expectancy of the wireless sensors has been enhanced by embedding efficient power management schemes in the sensors while integrating solar panels for power harvesting. The dynamic characteristics of the NCB under daily traffic and wind loads were extracted from the vibration response of the bridge deck and towers. These results have been compared to a high-fidelity finite element model of the bridge.

OSTI ID:
21511635
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings, Vol. 1335, Issue 1; Conference: Review of progress in quantitative nondestructive evaluation, San Diego, CA (United States), 18-23 Jul 2010; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3582777; (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English