DEVELOPMENT OF A WIRELESS SENSOR SYSTEM POTENTIALLY APPLIED TO LARGE-SPAN SPATIAL STRUCTURES

摘要

Along with the rapid development and wide application of large-span spatial structures, safety of these structures is becoming a major concern for owners and structural engineers. Frequently reported incidents and accidents have highlighted the urgent need of continual on-line assessment of the health status of these spatial structures. For traditional wired structural monitoring (SHM) systems, time and expense are largely spent on wire installment and later maintenance. The system is also inflexible in adjusting spatially distributed sensor networks pattern. Recent advances in sensor development, wireless communication, and wide application of solar power systems make solar-powered wireless SHM systems in reality as an efficient and economical solution for the health detection of large-span structures. In this paper, a detailed description of a new developed wireless sensor system including its framework, components and technology challenges is presented. Preliminary laboratory vibration tests are conducted to verify the feasibility of the system.