Proceedings Article•
Circular microstrip patch antenna strain sensor for wireless structural health monitoring
01 Jan 2010-pp 1173-1178
TL;DR: In this paper, the feasibility of using a circular microstrip patch antenna to detect strain has been investigated and the theoretical model shows a linear relationship between strain and the shift in the resonant frequency of the antenna.
Abstract: In this paper the feasibility of using a circular microstrip patch antenna to detect strain has been investigated. The theoretical model shows a linear relationship between strain and the shift in the resonant frequency of the antenna. A circular patch antenna has been designed and fabricated to work at 1.5GHz. Both Finite Element Analysis (FEA) and experimental tests have been undertaken to corroborate the relationship between strain and frequency shift. The ultimate intention of this work is to configure antennas or resonators for the detection of relatively small damage zones in structures and to do so wirelessly.
Citations
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TL;DR: In this article, a general review and classification of wind turbine condition monitoring methods and techniques with a focus on trends and future challenges is provided, and interesting insights from this research are used to point out strengths and weaknesses in today's WTCM industry and define research priorities needed for the industry to meet the challenges in wind industry technological evolution and market growth.
Abstract: As the demand for wind energy continues to grow at exponential rates, reducing operation and maintenance (OM) costs and improving reliability have become top priorities in wind turbine (WT) maintenance strategies. In addition to the development of more highly evolved WT designs intended to improve availability, the application of reliable and cost-effective condition-monitoring (CM) techniques offers an efficient approach to achieve this goal. This paper provides a general review and classification of wind turbine condition monitoring (WTCM) methods and techniques with a focus on trends and future challenges. After highlighting the relevant CM, diagnosis, and maintenance analysis, this work outlines the relationship between these concepts and related theories, and examines new trends and future challenges in the WTCM industry. Interesting insights from this research are used to point out strengths and weaknesses in today’s WTCM industry and define research priorities needed for the industry to meet the challenges in wind industry technological evolution and market growth.
479 citations
Additional excerpts
...In this last case, microchip path antennas are increasingly used for sensing, ambient energy harvesting, and data transmission [157–160]....
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TL;DR: In this paper, a completely passive UHF RFID sensor for strain monitoring starting from a flexible meander-line dipole whose shape factor and feed section are engineered to achieve the desired sensing resolution and dynamic range.
Abstract: The processing of backscattered signals coming from RFID tags is potentially useful to detect the physical state of the tagged object. It is here shown how to design a completely passive UHF RFID sensor for strain monitoring starting from a flexible meander-line dipole whose shape factor and feed section are engineered to achieve the desired sensing resolution and dynamic range. This class of devices is low-cost, promises sub-millimeter resolution and may found interesting applications in the Structural Health Monitoring of damaged structures and vehicles as well as during extreme and adverse events.
155 citations
Patent•
19 May 2011TL;DR: In this article, a test system for conductive electronic device structures such as a conductive housing member that forms part of an antenna may be provided that has a pair of pins or other contacts.
Abstract: Conductive electronic device structures such as a conductive housing member that forms part of an antenna may be tested during manufacturing. A test system may be provided that has a pair of pins or other contacts. Test equipment such as a network analyzer may provide radio-frequency test signals in a range of frequencies. The radio-frequency test signals may be applied to the conductive housing member or other conductive structures under test using the test probe contacts. An antenna may be used to gather corresponding wireless radio-frequency signal data. Forward transfer coefficient data may be computed from the transmitted and received radio-frequency signals. The forward transfer coefficient data or other test data may be compared to reference data to determine whether the conductive electronic device structures contain a fault.
131 citations
Patent•
29 Sep 2014TL;DR: In this article, a vector network analyzer or other test unit that generates radio-frequency tests signals in a range of frequencies is used to determine whether the electronic device structures under test contain a fault.
Abstract: Electronic device structures such as structures containing antennas, connectors, welds, electronic device components, conductive housing structures, and other structures can be tested for faults using a non-contact test system. The test system may include a vector network analyzer or other test unit that generates radio-frequency tests signals in a range of frequencies. The radio-frequency test signals may be transmitted to electronic device structures under test using an antenna probe that has one or more test antennas. The antenna probe may receive corresponding radio-frequency signals. The transmitted and received radio-frequency test signals may be analyzed to determine whether the electronic device structures under test contain a fault.
125 citations
TL;DR: This article presents a review of some of the underlying technologies in the field of wireless sensors for SHM - with a focus on the research progress towards the development of simple, powerless, yet effective and robust wireless damage detection sensors.
Abstract: Wireless sensors for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is an emerging new technology that promises to overcome many disadvantages pertinent to conventional, wired sensors. The broad field of SHM has experienced significant growth over the past two decades, with several notable developments in the area of sensors such as piezoelectric sensors and optical fibre sensors. Although significant improvements have been made on damage monitoring techniques using these smart sensors, wiring remains a significant challenge to the practical implementation of these technologies. Wireless SHM has recently attracted the attention of researchers towards un-powered and more effective passive wireless sensors. This article presents a review of some of the underlying technologies in the field of wireless sensors for SHM - with a focus on the research progress towards the development of simple, powerless, yet effective and robust wireless damage detection sensors. This review examines the development of passive wireless sensors in two different categories: (1) use of oscillating circuits with the help of inductors, capacitors and resistors for damage detection; and (2) use of antennas, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and metamaterial resonators as strain sensors for wireless damage monitoring. An assessment of these electromagnetic techniques is presented and the key issues involved in their respective design configurations are discussed.
85 citations
Cites methods from "Circular microstrip patch antenna s..."
...Daliri et al. (2012b) developed a method for wireless interrogation of CMPA strain sensors without the need for additional circuit elements. The CMPA was excited using a linearly polarised double ridged horn antenna to read its resonant frequency. This concept was studied using computational simulations and experimental measurements. The strain in aluminium and CFRP panels was measured wirelessly using this technique. However, the interrogation distance was limited to 5 cm. This technique also enables measuring strain in any desired direction because the linear horn antenna excites the CMPA in the direction of its polarization. By rotating the horn antenna the strain can be measured in the corresponding direction. Daliri et al. (2012c) further increased the interrogation distance of the CMPA sensor up to 20 cm by using a high quality factor CMPA....
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...Daliri et al. (2012b) developed a method for wireless interrogation of CMPA strain sensors without the need for additional circuit elements....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1982
TL;DR: The most up-to-date resource available on antenna theory and design as mentioned in this paper provides an extended coverage of ABET design procedures and equations making meeting ABET requirements easy and preparing readers for authentic situations in industry.
Abstract: The most-up-to-date resource available on antenna theory and design Expanded coverage of design procedures and equations makes meeting ABET design requirements easy and prepares readers for authentic situations in industry New coverage of microstrip antennas exposes readers to information vital to a wide variety of practical applicationsComputer programs at end of each chapter and the accompanying disk assist in problem solving, design projects and data plotting-- Includes updated material on moment methods, radar cross section, mutual impedances, aperture and horn antennas, and antenna measurements-- Outstanding 3-dimensional illustrations help readers visualize the entire antenna radiation pattern
14,065 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey of the state-of-the-art structural health monitoring and damage detection tools for bridges is presented, including the use of signal processing, new sensors, and control theory.
Abstract: Increased awareness of the economic and social effects of aging, deterioration and extreme events on civil infrastructure has been accompanied by recognition of the need for advanced structural health monitoring and damage detection tools. Today, these tasks are done by visual inspection and very traditional methods such as the tap test. This labor-intensive task is done at a frequency of less than once every two years for bridges, and on an as-needed basis for other infrastructures such as buildings. Structural health monitoring techniques based on changes in dynamic characteristics have been studied for the last three decades. When the damage is substantial, these methods have some success in determining if damage has occurred. At incipient stages of damage, however, the existing methods are not as successful. A number of new research projects have been funded to improve the damage detection methods including the use of innovative signal processing, new sensors, and control theory. This survey paper hig...
927 citations
TL;DR: A brief introduction to smart sensing technology is provided and some of the opportunities and associated challenges are identified.
Abstract: ‘Smart’ sensors with embedded microprocessors and wireless communication links have the potential to change fundamentally the way civil infrastructure systems are monitored, controlled, and maintained. Indeed, a 2002 National Research Council report noted that the use of networked systems of embedded computers and sensors throughout society could well dwarf all previous milestones in the information revolution. However, a framework does not yet exist that can allow the distributed computing paradigm offered by smart sensors to be employed for structural health monitoring and control systems; current algorithms assume that all data is centrally collected and processed. Such an approach does not scale to systems with densely instrumented arrays of sensors that will be required for the next generation of structural health monitoring and control systems. This paper provides a brief introduction to smart sensing technology and identifies some of the opportunities and associated challenges. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
549 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed and demonstrated metamaterial-based strain sensors that are highly sensitive to mechanical deformation and their resonance frequency shift is correlated with the surface strain of the test material and the strain data are reported telemetrically.
Abstract: We proposed and demonstrated metamaterial-based strain sensors that are highly sensitive to mechanical deformation. Their resonance frequency shift is correlated with the surface strain of our test material and the strain data are reported telemetrically. These metamaterial sensors are better than traditional radio-frequency (rf) structures in sensing for providing resonances with high quality factors and large transmission dips. Using split ring resonators (SRRs), we achieve lower resonance frequencies per unit area compared to other rf structures, allowing for bioimplant sensing in soft tissue (e.g., fracture healing). In 5×5 SRR architecture, our wireless sensors yield high sensitivity (109 kHz/kgf, or 5.148 kHz/microstrain) with low nonlinearity error (<200 microstrain).
178 citations
TL;DR: The innovative wireless strain sensing technology described herein has demonstrated a great potential to extend its applications in structural health monitoring, damage detection, condition-based maintenance, failure prevention and non-destructive evaluation.
Abstract: A novel passive wireless-interrogation strain sensor is presented in this paper. The sensor employs a planar inductor with a series connected interdigital capacitor to eliminate the wire connection for power supply and data transmission. The sensor is activated by electromagnetic waves and the resonant frequency of the sensor is interrogated remotely with a single loop antenna by applying an oscillating signal to the antenna and monitoring the frequency response of the voltage across it. The prototype sensor and reader were designed and fabricated. The results of calibration on a constant-strain cantilever beam show great linearity and sensitivity. The innovative wireless strain sensing technology described herein has demonstrated a great potential to extend its applications in structural health monitoring, damage detection, condition-based maintenance, failure prevention and non-destructive evaluation.
141 citations