Developing Embedded Wireless Strain/Stress/Temperature Sensor Platform for Highway Applications

摘要

This research is to develop a radio frequency (RF) wireless embedded sensor platform for monitoring strain/stress/temperature/moisture changes inside the asphalt/soil/concrete structures. The sensor platform deployment will neither significantly change standard construction procedures, nor the properties or performance of the structure. The platform has the capability of self-aligning using gravity force during the deployment, measuring localized strain/stress values from defined directions, and changing temperature. A MicroElectroMechanical-System (MEMS) type power recharging device will transfer the mechanical vibration caused by traffic into electrical energy to power the integrated rechargeable batteries. The sensor platforms can be either precisely embedded at designated critical sites or randomly placed in the highway structures during the construction time for overall structure performance monitoring and traffic information collection, such as traffic flow, vehicles loading, speed, and axial numbers, etc. The main potential impacts on the practice of the proposed innovation include: (1) Provide a breakthrough technology for nondestructive monitoring and evaluating the performance of highway infrastructures at relatively low cost; (2) Provide a reliable tool to continually and remotely monitor the static and dynamic responses of highway structures to different loading conditions; (3) Provide the comprehensive data for verifying current highway structure design models and guidelines; (4) Provide a major component of Road Weather Information System for live highway dynamic traffic flow mapping.