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Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

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Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) refers to long-term monitoring of the structural integrity of static structures such as buildings, industrial plants, and civil infrastructure (dams, bridges, etc).  Commonly measured parameters include:

  • Pressure
  • Stress and strain
  • Physical geometry (changes in distance or angle)
  • Composition (evidence for corrosion etc.)

Measurements are typically characterised by small, incremental changes over long periods of time (5-20 years or more), and monitoring points may be widely dispersed and difficult to access for servicing in the field.  Monitoring systems for SHM must reflect this.

The monitoring system must be robust and reliable, and be able to maintain measurement stability over long periods of time, and/or be easily re-calibrated to an absolute reference.  Sensors need to be cost effective to install, able to transmit information over long distances, and be resistant to long-term damage or degradation in the environment.  ICON Technologies can supply monitoring systems optimised for SHM tasks.

 

Fibre Optic Measurement and SHM

Fibre optic measurement systems are ideally suited to SHM applications.  In particular, fibre optic sensors:

  • Are cost effective to install in large numbers over a distributed area.
  • Can transmit over 10s of kilometers with negligible loss of signal.
  • Are relatively straightforward to embed in structural elements.
  • Are immune to electrical damage from lightening strike.
  • Make absolute measurements that are not subject to drift over time.
  • Have no electro-mechanical parts, so they are highly resistant to environmental damage or degradation.

ICON technologies can provide an SHM system based solely on fibre optic measurement, or combine fibre optics with other technologies that have been successfully applied to SHM, such as vibrating wire sensors, laser rangefinders, and cameras.

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Special Partnership: Monitoring Bolted Structures

Boltstress Ultrasonics is a long-time provider of precision ultrasonic bolting services to the mining, oil & gas, and process industries. Now, they have teamed up with ICON Technologies to expand their suite of customer services: Together, we provide online monitoring of bolt tension and the health of bolted structures.

These solutions typically combine conventional electrical strain measurement with a mix of specialised sensors including fibre-optic (FBG) strain sensors, through-hole load cells and ultrasonic transducers to provide a real-time view of the response of bolted systems to changes in load over time.

For more details, see our Partners for Industry brochure. To discuss a specific bolting application, contact trevor@boltstress.com.au.

Condition Monitoring (CM) vs. Structural Health Monitoring (SHM)

Condition Monitoring (CM) is largely focussed on short-term measurement of the dynamic behaviour of structures, plant & equipment in normal operation – primarily changes in temperature or vibration response.  Some large mechanical structures like loaders or drag-lines can be considered from a monitoring perspective as static frameworks with one or more moving sub-systems, and a complete monitoring system needs to address both CM and SHM components.  ICON Technologies has experience with both short term CM, and long-term SHM, and can supply fully integrated monitoring systems that address both sets of requirements.

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