Energy Harvesting for
Structural Health Monitoring Sensor Networks
LA-14314-MS
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About the cover—Energy Harvesting Example: A piezoelectric patch converts ambient
mechanical vibration into useful electrical energy. The electrical charge from the
piezoelectric material is first rectified and then stored in a capacitor until sufficient energy
is accumulated to power a commercially available thermocouple. The capacitor becomes
sufficiently charged in less than 10 s of low-ampitude vibration.
Energy Harvesting for
Structural Health Monitoring Sensor Networks
G. Park
C. R. Farrar
M. D. Todd*
W. Hodgkiss**
T. Rosing†
* Department of Structural Engineering, University of California, San Diego,
La Jolla, CA 92093-0085.
** Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, San Diego,
La Jolla CA 92093-0701.
† Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego,
La Jolla, CA 92093-0114.
LA-14314-MS
Issued: February 2007
Energy Harvesting for SHM Sensor Networks LA-14314-MS
v
CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................................... vii
LIST OF TABLES....................................................................................................................... viii
ENERGY HARVESTING FOR STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SENSOR
NETWORKS ............................................................................................................................... 1
ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................. 1
1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1
1.1. The Structural Health Monitoring Process .................................................................... 2
1.2. Annual Workshops ........................................................................................................ 3
2. SENSING SYSTEM DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS FOR SHM ........................................ 4
2.1. SHM Sensing Overview and Introduction .................................................................... 4
2.2. SHM Sensor Networks .................................................................................................. 5
2.3. Sensor Modalities in Current SHM System Use ........................................................... 6
2.3.1. Acceleration........................................................................................................ 7
2.3.2. Strain................................................................................................................... 11
2.3.3. Fiber-Optic Strain Sensing ................................................................................. 13
2.3.4. Piezoelectric Sensor/Actuators ........................................................................... 15
3. CURRENT SHM SENSOR NETWORK PARADIGMS ..................................................... 17
3.1. Wired System ................................................................................................................ 18
3.2. Wireless Transmission Systems .................................................................................... 19
3.3. Sensor Network Paradigms ........................................................................................... 22
3.3.1. Sensor Arrays Directly Connected to Central Processing Hardware ................. 22
3.3.2. Decentralized Sensing and Processing with Hopping Connection..................... 22
3.3.3. Decentralized Active Sensing and Processing with Hybrid Connection............ 23
3.4. Future Sensing Network Paradigms .............................................................................. 25
3.5. Practical Implementation Issues for SHM Sensing Networks ...................................... 26
3.6. Sensor Properties ........................................................................................................... 26
3.7. Sensor Calibration and Ruggedness .............................................................................. 26
3.8. Multiscale Sensing......................................................................................................... 27
3.9. Power Consideration ..................................................................................................... 28
