I-Corps - Seismic Fragility Monitoring and Estimation System

这个i-Corps项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一种工具，通过持续监测结构的共振来检查结构的健康状况，例如高层公寓。退化速率或“疲劳”是风险评估所需的关键参数，但由于裂缝、翘曲和剪切等关键损坏指标通常出现在难以接近的位置，例如墙面、天花板和基础下，因此很难确定。在不依赖于有意识地确定这类指标的情况下评估疲劳仍然是目前知识中的一个空白。这项拟议的技术是基于这样的基本理解，即随着结构随着时间和元素的暴露而退化，它们的共振也会发生变化。目前，在单层和多层建筑、风车、石油平台、大坝和桥梁等领域，对帮助进行预测性结构维护的技术需求很大。拟议的技术旨在提醒所有者和运营商其资产的任何重大变化，这将使他们能够及时安排更详细的检查，以确定持续故障的确切性质，并在它变成更严重的问题和费用之前进行修复。这个i-Corps项目是基于一项通过监测结构共振来估计结构脆弱性的技术的开发。建议的技术同时使用硬件和软件开发。拟议的硬件包括一个具有遥测能力的多传感器单元，以捕捉整个运动范围并近乎实时地传递信息。多传感器单元包括加速计、陀螺仪和GPS的元件，它们分别允许记录线性和扭转运动和位移。该软件使用窗口和堆叠方法，将噪音降至最低，并增强结构的特征模式。硬件可以安装在文具以及移动结构中，而与它们的形状、复杂性和构成材料无关。记录的数据被传输到“基本的”高性能计算基础设施。在基站，数据被编目、存档，并使用先进的处理算法分析共振模式的变化。一般来说，共鸣的变化越大，脆弱性就越高。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a tool for checking the health of a structure, such as a high-rise condominium, by continually monitoring its resonance. The rate of degradation, or “fatigue,” is a critical parameter required for risk assessment but is difficult to determine as the key damage indicators such as cracks, warps, and shear generally appear in inaccessible locations, e.g., behind wall coverings, in ceilings, and under foundations. Assessing fatigue without relying on conscious identification of such indicators remains a gap in the current knowledge. The proposed technology is based on the fundamental understanding that as structures degrade with time and exposure to the elements, their resonance changes. Currently, there is a strong demand for technology to assist with predictive structural maintenance in areas such as single and multistory buildings, windmills, oil platforms, dams, and bridges. The proposed technology is designed to alert the owners and operators to any significant changes in their assets, which will allow them to schedule more detailed inspections in time to identify the exact nature of the ongoing failure and have it repaired before it turns into more significant problem and expense. This I-Corps project is based on the development of a technology to estimate the fragility of a structure by monitoring its resonance. The proposed technology uses both hardware and software development. The proposed hardware comprises a multi-sensor unit with telemetry capabilities to capture the full scope of motion and relay the information in near real time. The multi-sensor unit comprises elements of an accelerometer, gyroscope, and GPS, which respectively allow the recording of linear and torsional motions and displacements. The software uses windowing and stacking methods that minimize noise and enhance the characteristic modes of a structure. The hardware may be installed in stationery as well as mobile structures irrespective of their shape complexity and constituent material. The recorded data are transmitted to a “base” high-performing computing infrastructure. At the base station, the data are cataloged, archived, and analyzed for changes in the resonance pattern using advanced processing algorithms. In general, a greater change in resonance has been associated with higher fragility.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.