Deployment and Validation of Low-Cost Wireless Sensors for Real-Time Lifeline Condition Assessment

The Pacific Northwest is at risk for significant seismic and tsunami events, which are capable of severely damaging lifeline transportation infrastructure, particularly bridges. As the bridges in the United States age and begin to show signs of fatigue, the risk for severe damage increases. Proper monitoring and inspection of bridges is becoming increasingly important as bridges age, especially with the high likelihood of a significant seismic event. Structural health monitoring systems can be used to evaluate the condition of bridges throughout the area, and to quickly determine the state of lifeline bridges after a disaster. With technology advancing rapidly and making widespread monitoring possible, there exists a gap between the monitoring systems and the interpretation and presentation of recorded data. A framework needs to be developed to relay useful information to bridge owners and decision makers based on sensor readings. Numerical models of eight prototype bridges typical to the region were developed using the OpenSees FEA package. The numerical models were subject to a suite of ground motions to simulate the demands anticipated in the Pacific Northwest. The damage state of the bridges were compared to metrics that were measurable by using wireless bridge sensors. Recommendations were developed to permit wireless sensor data to be related to bridge performance.

  • Record URL:
  • Record URL:
  • Corporate Authors:

    Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium

    University of Washington
    More Hall Room 112
    Seattle, WA  United States  98195-2700

    University Transportation Center Region 10

    More Hall 112
    Box 352700
    Seattle, WA  United States  98195

    Research and Innovative Technology Administration

    Department of Transportation
    1200 New Jersey Avneue, SE
    Washington, DC  United States  20590

    Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

    University Transportation Centers Program
    Department of Transportation
    Washington, DC  United States  20590
  • Authors:
    • Slaven, Kelli R
    • Borello, Daniel J
  • Publication Date: 2016-10-15

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Edition: Research Report
  • Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; Tables;
  • Pagination: 108p

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01675303
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, RITA, ATRI, USDOT
  • Created Date: Jul 19 2018 2:44PM