Abstract
Maintenance of railway structures is important. However, the expense and time for inspection of the structures are large. In addition, judgments of performance of the structures depend on experience and knowledge of inspector. Therefore we have applied sensor and information technologies in order to support inspection and to improve inspection and diagnosis technologies.
In this paper, we have shown mechanisms of damage outbreak and performance of sensors for five kinds of structures. Furthermore we have suggested joint-translation-angle detection device, damage detection sensor, FBG (Fiber Bragg Grating) sensor, electric conductible paint and piezoelectric element as self-sensing sensors. In addition, as non-contact transmission system, we have adopted Zig-Bee radio, RF-ID tag and specified low-power radio.
By the completion of those systems, inspection systems of structures which have depended on experience and knowledge of inspector will be extensively improved and precision and certainty for inspection and diagnosis technologies are will be ensured.
