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Vibration measurement for monitoring structural dynamics

Structural monitoring for early detection of damage

The dynamic conditions to which a structure is exposed must be monitored in order to detect and assess its integrity, fatigue or damage at an early stage, which has an impact on the vulnerability, safety and predicted life expectancy of the structure. The measurement of structural dynamic parameters enables reliable risk assessment and prediction.

Bridge monitoring

Bridges (road, rail and pedestrian bridges) are among the critical infrastructures that need to be inspected regularly or, if necessary, permanently, as their traffic load has generally increased enormously since they were planned. Sound knowledge of the actual condition of bridges is therefore of great interest. Recording and evaluating dynamic properties has become much more important in recent years, as this obviously allows a largely objective risk assessment to be achieved. This also enables the creation of a learning knowledge database, so that AI-based forecasts can be created in future based on the measurement data.

Together with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), SEMEX-EngCon has successfully developed its MENHIR vibration measurement system as part of a funded project in order to fulfil precisely these specific measurement requirements.

Wirelessly networked, time-synchronised MENHIR vibration measuring devices collect measurement data in order to identify and localise damage using an Operational Modal Analysis (OMA).

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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association". As the only German university of excellence with large-scale national research, it offers students, researchers and employees unrivalled learning, teaching and working conditions.
www.kit.edu
Operational Modal Analysis (OMA)
Operative Modal Analysis (OMA) is a modal-based monitoring system for bridge structures that can supplement the subjectively influenced visual inspection with objective sensor-based monitoring. Based on the modal parameters of natural frequencies and mode shapes, damage associated with changes in stiffness can be detected and localised. This enables early identification of damage and, in particular, the localisation of damage in inaccessible areas of a bridge.
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