Current ICT Project
Investigators:
  Farhad Ansari (Primary)
Project Title:
  Field Implementation and Evaluation of the Simple Cost-Effective Scour Sensor
Start Date: 2/1/2009
End Date: 1/31/2010
Summary of Project:
  Scour is considered one of the major causes of highway bridge failures in the United States. It is especially prevalent during floods and periods of rapid, river flow activities. During floods, erosion of the foundation materials below the bridge piers causes structural instability. The proposed scour sensor will include a single sensor embedded inside a rod cantilevered into the river bed. As the scour initiates and develops, the length of the cantilever sensor is altered. The length change of the cantilever rod due to scour is accompanied by a proportionate change in its dynamic characteristics, i.e. natural frequencies, which is measured from the dynamic strain response of the sensor. This change in natural frequency is independent of the flow rate and will be directly related to the scour depth.
Objective of Project:
  The objectives for the second phase of the proposed project is to perform a comprehensive field test on a multi-span bridge with several piers. During the field experiments various design parameters in terms of sensor dimensions, scour depths, resolution, and numerical calibration schemes will be examined. Optimum sensor parameters will be selected based on these parameters. Other major issues to be studied during this phase of the project will be installation procedures, data acquisition and monitoring, development of the specific software for the field monitoring. The research will focus on installation of several sensors on different pier locations and simultaneous detection of scour. The interrogation unit and the computer for acquisition and processing of data will be installed in the field for remote monitoring operations.
Expected Outcome:
  The outcome of the project will be design and installation details, field implementation, instrumentation and software for the scour sensor. A multi-span bridge over salt creek river has been selected for permanent installation of scour sensors. Altogether, twelve to fourteen sensors sensors will be installed at the bridge piers and they will be wired to the field interrogation unit through a multiplexer. Wireless remote data acquisition system and software will be developed for monitoring from IDOT and UIC sites. User friendly software, field installation and instruction manuals will be developed for use by IDOT personnel.
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Last Updated: 11/18/2009