Development of inexpensive sensing for structural health monitoring using DC voltage supply battery coupled with piezoelectric transducer

Abstract

The maintenance of civil infrastructures is as important as their construction. Extensive research has been conducted to analyse and improve various existing structural health monitoring (SHM) techniques, an example would be the electromechanical impedance (EMI) technique. Despite the introduction of low-cost piezo diaphragms as an alternative to lead zirconate titanate (PZT) transducers, the EMI technique still requires expensive analysers. The primary objective of this final year project (FYP) was to develop an inexpensive sensing method for the detection of shocks and vibrations using transducers powered by simple batteries. The design employed Arduino Uno microcontroller board as the core of the sensor kit and piezo diaphragms as sensors for detection. Shock occurrences would then be signalled by light emitting diodes (LEDs) and liquid crystal display (LCD). The sensor kit could also be connected to a computer via USB for recording of data should further analysis be required. The performance of the sensor kit was evaluated through a series of experiments conducted with the EMI technique in time domain as well as other SHM techniques. It was verified that the sensor kit is able to detect and qualify shocks, measure the duration of vibrations, and identify the location of an impact by employing multiple sensors. Key limitations of the design are highlighted and recommendations for future improvement on the design of the sensor kit are provided.