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

探索性研究（SGER）的主要目标是完成健康监测技术实验的开发，该实验专门用于报告在机械载荷和环境因素的综合作用下桥梁缆索的退化。已经为实验完成了大量的分析工作。该分析模型是一种基于概率的方法，用于评估电缆的剩余强度。该模型通过部署腐蚀传感器预测电缆强度在环境影响下随时间的退化。该模型的结果显示出有前途的结果在退化的电缆强度的预测。然而，物理测试是需要一个真正的”概念证明“的环境退化的强度。如果这项研究得到资助，将进行这种测试。桥梁技术咨询（BTC）电缆强度模型沿着从电缆内部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连续更新的模型。BTC电缆强度模型已经进行的结构研究已经证明了这一概念的有效性。在此基础上，将腐蚀传感器嵌入到拉索中，以更新拉索的损伤状态，从而重新评估拉索的强度，这一想法具有相当的学术价值，该项目的预期成果将对全美退化桥梁拉索的强度评估产生重大而广泛的影响。该项目的成果将提供一个明确的证明，健康监测系统组成的分析电缆强度模型，结合腐蚀传感器嵌入在电缆是健全的概念，并按预期运行。该系统预计将提供一个有效的健康监测工具，电缆强度评估，将使用桥梁工程师和桥梁业主在美国各地。

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.