Active Structure Sensing Based on High-resolution Cameras

Abstract

This study proposes a novel approach to structural health monitoring through active structure sensing using a high-resolution camera for deflection distribution measurement under operational conditions. With the increasing the number of aging social and plant infrastructures, structure health monitoring becomes crucial for early detection of structural anomalies due to deterioration. Conventional contact sensors like strain gauges and accelerometers face challenges in installation and structural limitations, and confine frequent inspections to infrastructures under operation regulations and elevating inspection costs. This study introduces an active sensing method that captures the effects of load passage on deflection displacement around structural anomalies of infrastructures in operating with moving loads, and dimensionless deflection influence lines are defined as speed- and weight-invariant features in active structure sensing. Their effectiveness for structural anomaly detection is validated by showing dimensionless deflection influence lines when loads are moving on 3-m-length H section metal beams.