Remotely Powered Arrays of Active Strain-Gauge Wall Sensors Project Description

University Of Maryland, College Park, College Park MD

Investigators

Abstract

This is a SGER project to explore the possibility of remote sensing of large strain gauge arrays, which may be embedded in building walls and bridges, for continuous or on-demand monitoring of the structure's health condition. The power handling capabilities of a chip consisting of active analog vlsi transistorized bridge circuits, which determines the state of the strain gauge will be investigated, Initially the commercially available gauge products will be used as an arm in the active bridge that will be sent to mosis for fabrication into a vlsi chip. The attenuation characteristics of structural materials such as reinforced concrete are also to be determaned as well ass a means of transmitting data into and out of the embedded bridge. As a preliminary proof of concept the remote system will be mounted on the exterior of a wall whereas longer range studies will incorporate it embedded inside of walls.