Collaborative Research: Development of a Three Dimensional Sensing System for Applications in Materials, Environmental, and Civil Infrastructure Research

一个革命性的三维传感系统将被开发，利用电磁成像和传感材料，环境和民用基础设施研究的最新进展。该系统将能够通过记录感兴趣的材料内的无源雷达目标（后向反射器）的位移和旋转来跟踪局部材料的移动。最终，该系统的开发将提供一套高度可靠、具有成本效益的工具，用于测试复杂材料和结构的计算和理论模型。这一系统将使许多研究领域受益，包括：（1）颗粒物质研究，如粒度分离效应的基础和应用研究;（2）环境和地球物理研究，如泥石流和沉积物输运研究;以及（3）民用基础设施研究和应用，如各种荷载下土壤行为的调查，特别是那些表现出对于传统传感器测量不实用的大位移的传感器。研究将分三个阶段进行：（I）系统开发，（II）颗粒材料研究，（III）系统实施，验证和演示。在第三阶段，将实施测量系统，以间接跟踪实验路基的内部裂缝和位移的形成（与美国联邦公路管理局合作）。

A revolutionary three-dimensional sensing system will be developed that leverages recent advances in electromagnetic imaging and sensing for materials, environmental, and civil infrastructure research. The system will enable the tracking of localized material movement by recording displacement and rotation of passive radar targets (retroreflectors) within materials of interest. Ultimately, the development of this system will provide a highly reliable, cost-efficient set of tools with which to test computational and theoretical models of complex materials and structures. Many fields of research will benefit from this system, including (1) Granular materials research, such as basic and applied studies of size segregation effects; (2) Environmental and geophysical research, such as investigations of debris flow and sediment transport; and (3) Civil infrastructure research and applications, such as investigation of soil behavior under various types of loading, particularly those that exhibit large displacements that are not practical for conventional sensor measurements. The research will take place in three phases: (I) System Development, (II) Granular Materials Research, and (III) System Implementation, Validation, and Demonstration. Under Phase III, the measurement system will be implemented to indirectly track the formation of internal cracks and shifts in experimental roadbeds (in collaboration with the U.S. Federal Highway Administration).