Collaborative Research: Fusion of Electromagnetic and Mechanical Wave Data for Concrete Structure Diagnostics

摘要0060578（瓦迪亚-法塞蒂）和0600062（波波维奇）该奖项为研究提供资金，以开发非破坏性混凝土结构诊断的融合模型。该研究将集中在混凝土结构中发现的两个普遍和重要的缺陷：分层和空隙。 所考虑的具体方式是探地雷达和撞击回波。 智力上的优点是创新的融合模型，包括最先进的信号处理和成像技术的混凝土结构的基于物理的诊断的发展。 虽然GPR和IE技术都被证明是非常有用的，但它们往往是不确定的，并产生模糊的结果。这两种方法的物理特性是，一种（GPR）不能直接检测到显著的机械损伤，而另一种（IE）不能检测到与损伤相关的重要水分、电化学和物理条件。然而，这两种方法都提供深度测量，相互补充。拟议的研究旨在联合处理来自这些互补来源的数据。这种联合处理预计将导致更多的信息丰富的诊断信息，并最终显着的康复成本节省，比可以从两个来源分别获得。研究工作分为三个主要方面。 融合算法开发的重点包括缺陷定义、电磁和机械传感源的模型开发、融合模型开发、合成实验的实施以及融合诊断能力和真实的传感环境鲁棒性的分析评估。 受控实验室实验推力将使用灌浆钢筋束管道中有空隙和分层的实验室混凝土样本，以生成受控实验数据。 融合和诊断模型将在受控实验中实施和验证。 现场验证重点将测试在役结构元件，并将结果与其他诊断研究进行比较。东北大学和伊利诺伊大学厄巴纳尚潘分校带来了结构诊断、数据融合、电磁波和机械波建模以及无损评估（NDE）方面的专业知识。 地球物理测量系统公司是探地雷达设备的世界制造商，将提供现场数据收集和解释方面的设备和专门知识。实验合作伙伴，德国联邦材料研究和测试研究所（BAM）和美国联邦公路管理局NDE验证中心（NDEVC），将提供现场样品，实验模型和现场专业知识。 NSF资助的地下成像和传感系统工程研究中心（CenSSIS）将提供成像和信号处理策略，学生支持和跨学科课程的跨学科专业知识，以及通过年度CenSSIS会议提供教育和专业培训机会。 更广泛的影响包括核心理论的发展，可以成为新技术发展的基础。 研究将包括一个综合和跨学科的团队，包括教师，国际合作伙伴，从业人员，业主，研究生和本科生（REU）和高中教师。 这些进展将为生物医学成像和地雷探测等其他应用提供数据融合的技术和战略。 与欧洲合作伙伴的学生交流将导致科学文化的国际交流。由东北土木工程和电气工程系提供的研究生支持将GPR和IE整合到本科实验室。

Abstract0060578 (Wadia-Fascetti) and 0600062 (Popovics)This award provides funding for research to develop fusion models for non-destructive concrete structure diagnostics. The research will focus on two pervasive and significant defects found in concrete structures: delaminations and voids. The specific modalities considered are ground penetrating radar (GPR) and impact echo (IE). The intellectual merit is the development of innovative fusion models that embrace state of the art signal processing and imaging techniques for physically-based diagnostics of concrete structures. While both GPR and IE technologies have proven extremely useful, they can often be inconclusive and produce ambiguous results. The physics of the two methods are such that one (GPR) cannot directly detect the significant mechanical damage while the other (IE) cannot detect the important moisture, electrochemical, and physical conditions associated with damage. However, these two methods, which both provide depth measurements, complement each other. The proposed research seeks to jointly process the data from these complementary sources. This joint processing is expected to lead to more informative diagnostic information, and ultimately significant rehabilitation cost savings, than can be obtained from the two sources separately. The research effort is divided into three main thrusts. The Fusion Algorithm Development thrust includes defect definition, model development for electromagnetic and mechanical sensing sources, fusion model development, implementation of synthetic experiments, and analytical evaluation for fusion diagnostics capabilities and robustness with regard to real sensing environments. The Controlled Laboratory Experiment thrust will use laboratory concrete samples with voids in grouted tendon ducts and delaminations to generate controlled experimental data. Fusion and diagnostics models will be implemented and verified on controlled experiments. The Field Verification thrust will test in-service structural elements and compare results to other diagnostic studies. Northeastern University and the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign bring expertise in structure diagnostics, data fusion, electromagnetic and mechanical wave modeling and nondestructive evaluation (NDE). Geophysical Survey Systems is a world manufacturer of GPR equipment and will provide equipment and expertise in field data collection and interpretation. The experimental partners, the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) and the U.S. Federal Highway Administration NDE Validation Center (NDEVC), will provide field samples, experimental models and field expertise. The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center for Subsurface Imaging and Sensing Systems (CenSSIS), will provide interdisciplinary expertise with imaging and signal processing strategies, student support, and interdisciplinary curricula, as well as educational and professional training opportunities through annual CenSSIS conferences. The broader impacts include the development of core theory that can be the basis for new technology development. Research will embrace an integrated and interdisciplinary team including faculty, international partners, practitioners, owners, graduate and undergraduate students (REU), and high school teachers. Advances will provide techniques and strategies for data fusion for other applications such as biomedical imaging and land mine detection. Student exchange with European partners will lead to international exchange of scientific culture. Graduate student support provided by the Northeastern Civil Engineering and Electrical Engineering Departments will integrate GPR and IE into the undergraduate laboratories.