SGER: Development and Testing of a Mock-up Experiment for Health Monitoring Technology for Bridge Cables

这一小型探索性研究基金(SGER)的主要目标是完成健康监测技术实验的开发，该实验专门设计用于报告桥梁电缆在机械载荷和环境因素的共同影响下的退化情况。实验的大量分析工作已经完成。分析模型是一种基于概率的方法，用于评估拉索的剩余强度。该模型通过布设腐蚀传感器，预测了环境影响下拉索强度随时间的退化过程。模型计算结果表明，该模型在预测拉索强度退化方面具有较好的效果。然而，需要进行物理测试，才能真正证明环境退化的强度。如果这项研究得到资助，将进行这项测试。桥梁技术咨询公司(BTC)的电缆强度模型以及从电缆中嵌入的腐蚀传感器获得的数据是唯一已知的提供电缆强度持续更新的模型。BTC电缆强度模型已经进行的结构调查已经证明了这一概念的有效性。在此基础上，在电缆中嵌入腐蚀传感器以更新电缆钢丝的损伤状态并相应地重新评估电缆强度的想法具有相当大的智能价值。该项目的预期结果将对全美退化桥梁电缆的强度评估产生重大而广泛的影响。项目成果将提供一个明确的证明，由分析电缆强度模型组成的健康监测系统，结合嵌入在电缆中的腐蚀传感器，在概念上是健全的，并按预期运行。预计该系统将为电缆强度评估提供一种高效的健康监测工具，供全美桥梁工程师和桥梁所有者使用。

The main objective of this Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) is to complete the development of health monitoring technology experiment that is specifically designed to report the degradation of a bridge cable under the combined effect of mechanical loading and environmental factors. Extensive analytical work has already been completed for the experiment. The analytical model is a probabilistic-based approach for the evaluation of the remaining strength of the cable. The model forecasts the time-dependent degradation of the cable strength under the effect of the environment through the deployment of corrosion sensors. The results of the model show promising results in the prediction of the degraded cable strength. However, physical testing is required for a true ""proof of concept"" of the environmental degradation of the strength. It is this testing that will be carried out if this research is funded. The Bridge Technology Consulting (BTC) Cable Strength Model along with data obtained from corrosion sensors embedded inside the cables is the only known model to provide continuous updating of the cable strength. Structural investigations already performed by the BTC Cable Strength Model have demonstrated the validity of the concept. On this basis, the idea of incorporating corrosion sensors embedded in the cable to update the damage state of the cable wires and re-assess the cable strength accordingly has considerable intellectual merit.The expected outcome of the project will have a significant broad impact on the assessment of the strength of degraded bridge cables throughout the United States. The project outcome will provide a clear proof that Health Monitoring System composed of the analytical cable strength model, combined with corrosion sensors embedded inside the cable is sound in concept and operates as expected. The system is expected to provide an efficient health monitoring tool for cable strength assessment that will be used by bridge engineer and bridge owners throughout the United States.