Description
Fatigue cracks need to be monitored in fatigue critical elements. Previous research by the PI produced a radiofrequency identification (RFID) sensor prototype that can accurately measure tens of micro-strains in laboratory. The antenna sensor was made on a glass microfiber-reinforced polymer substrate. Although accurate for strain measurement and detection of fatigue cracks, the sensor performs less satisfactorily in field conditions since the substrate material (RT/duroid® 5880) is susceptible to thermal effect. In addition, a wireless interrogation distance by a general-purpose commercial RFID reader is limited to the order of meter, which is not desirable with the operation of a UAV. The commercial reader also weighs over 30 N and costs approximately $30k.
This project aims to develop and validate a light antenna sensor (1 kg) with new substrate materials that can be accurately interrogated at a desirable distance (over 30 m) in field applications, and develop and test a customized RFID reader that costs less than $3k for effective monitoring of bridges.
Location
Rolla, Missouri
Presentation Date
14 Aug 2018, 9:00 am - 9:30 am
Meeting Name
INSPIRE-UTC 2018 Annual Meeting
Department(s)
Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Document Type
Presentation
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Included in
Battery-free Antenna Sensors for Strain and Crack Monitoring of Bridge Structures
Rolla, Missouri
Fatigue cracks need to be monitored in fatigue critical elements. Previous research by the PI produced a radiofrequency identification (RFID) sensor prototype that can accurately measure tens of micro-strains in laboratory. The antenna sensor was made on a glass microfiber-reinforced polymer substrate. Although accurate for strain measurement and detection of fatigue cracks, the sensor performs less satisfactorily in field conditions since the substrate material (RT/duroid® 5880) is susceptible to thermal effect. In addition, a wireless interrogation distance by a general-purpose commercial RFID reader is limited to the order of meter, which is not desirable with the operation of a UAV. The commercial reader also weighs over 30 N and costs approximately $30k.
This project aims to develop and validate a light antenna sensor (1 kg) with new substrate materials that can be accurately interrogated at a desirable distance (over 30 m) in field applications, and develop and test a customized RFID reader that costs less than $3k for effective monitoring of bridges.
