Adaptive Mobile Sensor Networks for Structural Health Monitoring

Georgia Tech Research Corporation, Atlanta GA

Investigators

Abstract

0928095 Yang Wang Georgia Tech With great potential to ensure the safety of civil structures, structural health monitoring (SHM) systems have attracted much attention in recent years. This research will investigate a novel approach of harnessing mobile sensor networks for SHM. With optimal placement and reconfiguration strategies, intelligent mobile sensor networks provide a means to adaptively reconfigure network architecture while achieving unprecedented high spatial resolutions. The research will begin with investigating criteria and principles for designing mobile sensor nodes; a magnet-wheeled mobile sensor prototype will then be developed for navigating on ferromagnetic structures. Substructure-based finite-element (FE) model will be updated and damage detection algorithms that best utilize the high spatial resolution provided by the mobile sensing nodes will be developed. Finally a systematic methodology will be developed for adaptively optimizing and readjusting network configurations. Benefiting from the high-valued educational tradition at Georgia Tech, considerable efforts will be made to recruit graduate and undergraduate students from minority groups. The prototype mobile sensors will be integrated with a new course on advanced dynamics and smart structures, which is to be offered by the PI at Georgia Tech. One-day outreach activities will be designed for groups of K-12 students, in order to spark their strong interest in science and engineering.