BACKGROUND
Historically, acoustic emissions (AE) have been used to determine critical failures in infrastructure such as cracks or faults. The frequency sent through the structure changes as faults occur in the structure due to cyclical stress. This allows sensors to register the change in frequency and categorize the change in a data log. Other sensors such as load sensors; displacement sensors and vibration sensors are currently in use in industry. However, there are no currently available solutions for assessing the structural health of an infrastructure using data returned from these sensors. A technology capable of determining the health of any given structure could be critical for saving costs and lives associated with the degradation of that structure.
SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY
Researchers at Oklahoma State University have developed the Integrated Resonance Acquisition Toolkit (INTACT) utilizing AE sensors with features such as GPS, gyroscopes, and accelerometers along with modular micro-computers to continuously record data throughout a monitored structure. With these sensors, INTACT can continually record the subtle axial and torsional oscillations of a structure from traffic, weather, and natural events. From the recorded data, INTACT determines the resonance pattern of the structure, alerting owners and operators to any shifts that could indicate structural damage. Ultimately, INTACT strives to meet several needs for structure owners. The assessment of structural health without visual inspection leads to cost savings. INTACT also mitigates risk by assessing fragility impacts and making evacuation and re-occupancy decisions. Lastly, INTACT extends the overall lifespan of the asset by optimizing performance with data comparisons, creating fatigue-based damage profiles, and prolonging aging-asset operational timelines.
POTENTIAL AREAS OF APPLICATION
MAIN ADVANTAGES
STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT
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