Proof of concept of wireless TERS monitoring

Abstract

Temporary earth retaining structures (TERS) help prevent collapse during construction excavation. To ensure that these structures are operating within design specifications, load forces on supports must be monitored. Current monitoring approaches are expensive, sparse, off-line, and thus difficult to integrate into predictive models. This work aims to show that wirelessly connected battery powered sensors are feasible, practical, and have similar accuracy to existing sensor systems. We present the design and validation of ReStructure, an end-to-end prototype wireless sensor network for collection, communication, and aggregation of strain data. ReStructure was validated through a six months deployment on a real-life excavation site with all but one node producing valid and accurate strain measurements at higher frequency than existing ones. These results and the lessons learnt provide the basis for future widespread wireless TERS monitoring that increase measurement density and integrate closely with predictive models to provide timely alerts of damage or potential failure.

Deep Foundation Pit Excavations Adjacent to Disconnected Piled Rafts: A Review on Risk Control Practice

“…Schematics of: (a) observational method; (b) "observational modelling" approach for updating the design predictions of geotechnical boundary value problems [143]. through strain gauges or load cells; deflection of the wall obtained with inclinometers; ground surface movements via optical surveys, inclinometers and extensometers; and porewater pressures through piezometers) are surpassed, the monitoring personnel sends the forewarning document to overseeing unit to trigger threshold safety alarms [25] [146] [147] [148]. Due to the installation of the instrument, the measurement cost by manual monitoring approach is very high, but emerging safety technology is basically replacing them by the automatic monitoring method.…”

Optimal data collection of multi-radio multi-channel multi-power wireless sensor networks for structural monitoring applications: A simulation study

“…Most existing SHM systems were implemented based on wired monitoring networks . In recent years, with the fast development of wireless communication technologies, wireless sensors network (WSN) is emerging to replace wired monitoring technologies, because of the superiority in installation, cost, system expansion, and maintenance . In terms of network topology, the SHM‐oriented WSNs typically feature a three‐dimensional long and narrow chain distribution, which will cause a much more serious network congestion and energy hole problems in contrast to conventional WSNs.…”

“…10,11 In recent years, with the fast development of wireless communication technologies, wireless sensors network (WSN) is emerging to replace wired monitoring technologies, because of the superiority in installation, cost, system expansion, and maintenance. [12][13][14] In terms of network topology, the SHM-oriented WSNs typically feature a three-dimensional long and narrow chain distribution, which will cause a much more serious network congestion and energy hole problems in contrast to conventional WSNs. In terms of sensor deployment, the sensors are usually fixed in structures permanently, and the deployment location is carefully that guarantees the efficiency of global optimization.…”