SSVM: An Ultra-Low-Power Strain Sensing and Visualization Module for Long-Term Structural Health Monitoring

Abstract

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is crucial for quantitative behavioral analysis of structural members such as fatigue, buckling, and crack propagation identification. However, formerly developed approaches cannot be implemented effectively for long-term infrastructure monitoring, owing to power inefficiency and data management challenges. This study presents the development of a high-fidelity and ultra-low-power strain sensing and visualization module (SSVM), along with an effective data management technique. Deployment of 24-bit resolution analog to a digital converter and precise half-bridge circuit for strain sensing are two significant factors for efficient strain measurement and power management circuit incorporating a low-power microcontroller unit (MCU), and electronic-paper display (EPD) enabled long-term operation. A prototype for SSVM was developed that performs strain sensing and encodes the strain response in a QR code for visualization on the EPD. For efficient power management, SSVM only activated when the trigger-signal was generated and stayed in power-saving mode consuming 18 mA and 337.9 μA, respectively. The trigger-signal was designed to be generated either periodically by a timer or intentionally by a push-button. A smartphone application and cloud database were developed for efficient data acquisition and management. A lab-scale experiment was carried out to validate the proposed system with a reference strain sensing system. A cantilever beam was deflected by increasing load at its free end, and the resultant strain response of SSVM was compared with the reference. The proposed system was successfully validated to use for long-term static strain measurement.

Smart Wireless Transducer Dedicated for Use in Aviation Laboratories

“…In the configuration shown in Figure 10, measurements are independent of power supply variations. The power consumption depends on the resistance, excitation voltage, and time of operation [45]. Constant use of strain gauges generates excess power consumption for a designed low-power system, as shown in Table 2.…”

Principles, properties, and sensing applications of mechanoluminescence materials

“…Khan et al designed the development process for an ultra-low power strain sensing and visualization module, as well as an effective data management technique. 170 ML materials are considered to be excellent candidates for new pressure sensors. The continuous and overlapping trap depth distributions of existing ML materials can continuously maintain afterglow noise, thus hindering the continuous recognition of ML signals.…”

Development of a Low-Cost System for the Accurate Measurement of Structural Vibrations

“…Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) applications provide information on the state of structures, their functioning, and their structural response. As pointed out by many scholars (see, e.g., [ 5 ]), SHM can be used to calibrate structural models of real structures (digital twins [ 6 ]) that mimic the infrastructure performance to assess the decision-making process during the maintenance phase [ 7 , 8 , 9 ].…”

“…8 Structural type: where the sensors are used. 9 Type: Uni stands for uniaxial, Tri for triaxial, P for piezoelectric and M for MEMS (uniaxial accelerometers are only capable of sensing vibration from one axis, while triaxial ones can sense vibrations from all of the directions).…”