In the context of building technology, health monitoring refers to assessing a structure’s health. It involves evaluating the structure’s geometric fitness and load capacity. Unlike assessment, a system should be inspected in real-time, as all forms have a design life. Nevertheless, monitoring is a necessary component of a sustainable building, as it helps planners of maintenance activities.
Challenges of health monitoring of a structure
A critical part of the process of structural health monitoring is to identify visible damage. However, the most significant challenge in most SHM applications lies in identifying hidden damage. This article will examine a few ways to detect hidden damage.
Achieving a reliable building health monitoring system is critical to preventing significant disasters, including bridge collapses. Monitoring structural health is particularly relevant for new structures incorporating innovative design concepts. Additionally, monitoring the health of existing systems can help validate predictions made during the design phase. The United States alone has more than 600,000 highway bridges, nearly half in good condition and one out of every 13 in poor condition. Fortunately, the number of bridges is growing, with several countries implementing bridge health monitoring systems to complement periodic non-destructive inspections. This paper will review challenges associated with detecting specific bridge characteristics.
While the traditional physics-based approach to structural health monitoring is not the most effective, it is the most practical solution for simple structures in controlled environments. Fortunately, advances in information technology have made it possible to monitor the health of complex systems. For example, in-situ sensor networks can monitor various parameters, allowing for real-time diagnosis and action. This method is more complicated than most people might think, but the benefits of implementing it are clear.
Objectives of monitoring the health monitoring of a structure
Structural health monitoring is observing and analyzing a system over time to detect changes that may indicate deterioration of a network. This monitoring method includes sensor types, locations, and data acquisition hardware. Its objective is to improve the understanding of structural behavior in the field and promote innovation.
One of structural health monitoring is to increase the lifespan of structures. In addition to saving energy and money, the monitoring system also improves public safety. However, it can present challenges due to ambient noise and the massive amount of data it collects. In addition, building accessibility is affected by large structures, which require many sensing points. Nevertheless, structural health monitoring is an effective and efficient approach to improving the life cycle management of structures and buildings.
A process of characterization and damage detection using sensors attached to structures is known as structural health management. Recent developments in sensing technologies have paved the way for real-time structural health monitoring (SHM). Such sensors enable a comprehensive analysis of the structural health of a structure. In addition to identifying damage, this monitoring process can also detect damage severity. Structural health monitoring aims to improve the safety of existing systems and evaluate the integrity of structures after earthquakes.
Challenges of developing a health monitoring technology
A health monitoring technology for a structure has several challenges. The process involves processing massive amounts of data. Applying this technology to complex real-world systems may be challenging. These variables include multiple sensing modalities, geometry, and material nonlinearity.
The data produced by structural health monitoring is massive, as multiple locations are monitored continuously. In addition, the data collection and analysis process is complex in bridges constructed to join inaccessible areas.
An intelligent sensor is an excellent solution to this problem. With a clever sensor, monitoring densely installed sensors is feasible and inexpensive. The information obtained from these sensors will help determine the condition of a structure. An intelligent sensor solves this problem only if it fits well with the design. The smart sensor also eliminates the need for complex communication and cabling systems.