Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
9.4
4.0
Journals
Sensors
Special Issues
Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition
sensors-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Sensors Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 7967

Editor

Dr. Carlos Moutinho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Construct-ViBest, Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
Interests: structural dynamics; modal analysis; structural health monitoring; dynamic testing of bridges and special structures; sensors development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is a continuation of our previous Special Issue titled “Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring”.

In recent years, many researchers have developed novel sensors driven by the growth in sensing technologies combined with the easier access to data acquisition, processing, and storage systems. Among other advantages, these solutions have the ability to be flexible, as they can be customized and adapted to each specific case under study.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the dissemination of research work in this area, with a special focus on problems involving the heath monitoring of different types of structures.

Dr. Carlos Moutinho
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • distributed sensor networks
  • vision systems
  • fiber optic sensing
  • wireless sensing
  • noncontact sensing
  • laser and radar systems
  • unmanned ground and aerial vehicle inspection
  • global navigation satellite systems
  • energy-harvesting-based systems

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

22 pages, 9401 KB  
Article
Non-Contact Ultrasonic Assessment of Corrosion in Steel Specimens
by Lukas Peterson, Andrei Zagrai, ThankGod Nwokocha and T. David Burleigh
Sensors 2026, 26(12), 3923; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26123923 - 20 Jun 2026
Viewed by 271
Abstract
Ultrasonic thickness resonance can be effectively used to detect and quantify the level of corrosion in steel nuclear storage containers as well as other corrosion-prone thin-walled structures, such as pipes and storage tanks. Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) have several advantages over more traditional [...] Read more.
Ultrasonic thickness resonance can be effectively used to detect and quantify the level of corrosion in steel nuclear storage containers as well as other corrosion-prone thin-walled structures, such as pipes and storage tanks. Electro-Magnetic Acoustic Transducers (EMATs) have several advantages over more traditional piezoelectric-based transducers; namely, they can be used in a non-contact fashion on robotic platforms, allowing for measurements regardless of surface conditions or temperature. The major challenge of EMAT application is the power required to counteract the low actuation efficiency, which is achieved with a high-power ultrasonic pulse generator and a transformer circuit. Resonance techniques, in which most of the energy is concentrated near structural resonance frequencies, are preferable to improve efficiency of electro-magnetic acoustic measurements. This methodology was applied to 316L stainless steel thin plates subjected to uniform corrosion as well as pitting corrosion imitating different damage scenarios in a nuclear waste container. The resonant peak frequency shift was found to be proportional to the severity of corrosion for minimally corroded samples. However, the complete disappearance of the resonance peak was observed in the samples with severe corrosion damage. The EMAT liftoff distance was studied to quantify its effect on the amplitude, spread, and frequency of resonant peaks. Recommendations for use of EMATs for assessing corrosion damage are presented. The study demonstrates the success of frequency-based detection of corrosion damage in 316L stainless steel used in fabrication of nuclear waste storage containers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 3664 KB  
Article
A Hybrid ISSA-XGBoost Model for Predicting Wellbore Leakage
by Kai Bai, Jiaqi Chen, Senlin Yin, Chaojie Wei, Yuzhou Yan and Junjie Liu
Sensors 2026, 26(11), 3526; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26113526 - 2 Jun 2026
Viewed by 334
Abstract
As critical underground engineering structures, wellbores may suffer complex structural deterioration and hidden safety hazards may be encountered during drilling. Multi-source sensor monitoring data provides an effective data basis for structural health perception and early warnings for wellbore structures at risk. The inherent [...] Read more.
As critical underground engineering structures, wellbores may suffer complex structural deterioration and hidden safety hazards may be encountered during drilling. Multi-source sensor monitoring data provides an effective data basis for structural health perception and early warnings for wellbore structures at risk. The inherent diversity of formation conditions and the dynamic disturbances during drilling jointly lead to the differentiated presentation of drilling loss types, among which fractured, permeable, and vuggy losses are the most typical. This paper focuses on fractured wellbore leakage, regards wellbore leakage as an important structural failure form of underground drilling engineering structures. In-depth analysis and research on the structural deterioration mechanism of wellbore leakage were conducted, and we propose a wellbore leakage prediction method based on the improved sparrow search algorithm (ISSA) optimized gradient boosting decision tree (XGBoost). First, the Sobol sequence is adopted to replace the random initialization strategy, combined with the opposition-based learning mechanism; then, an adaptive Levy flight search mechanism is introduced to dynamically adjust the population ratio of discoverers and vigilantes; finally, intelligent optimization technologies are integrated to reconstruct the position update strategies of discoverers, followers, and vigilantes, enhancing the optimization adaptability of the algorithm. Relying on multi-field sensor monitoring datasets collected from actual drilling engineering, this paper compares the proposed model with wellbore leakage prediction models built by classical machine learning algorithms, and verifies its generalization ability on different datasets. Experimental data indicate that the improved algorithm exhibits significant advantages in optimization accuracy, enabling the proposed model to achieve an AUC improvement of 4.46%, along with accuracy (95.1%), precision (94.9%), recall (94.7%), and F1-score (94.2%). On this basis, the ISSA was applied to the hyperparameter optimization of XGBoost, constructing the ISSA-XGBoost prediction model. The method has high accuracy and good generalization ability in fractured wellbore leakage prediction, and it can realize intelligent health monitoring of underground wellbore structures, including early warnings. This study provides a reliable sensing data analysis scheme and technical support for structural health monitoring and hazard prevention in drilling engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 36187 KB  
Article
Development and Implementation of a Fully Customised System for Monitoring a Long-Span Cable-Stayed Bridge Undergoing Rehabilitation Works
by Catarina Oliveira Relvas, Giancarlo Marulli, Carlos Moutinho and Elsa Caetano
Sensors 2026, 26(9), 2786; https://doi.org/10.3390/s26092786 - 29 Apr 2026
Viewed by 849
Abstract
This work explores the key capabilities of emerging sensing technologies in the context of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of civil infrastructures, aiming to contribute to research on integrated and intelligent systems for more accessible and efficient monitoring solutions. As a case study, it [...] Read more.
This work explores the key capabilities of emerging sensing technologies in the context of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of civil infrastructures, aiming to contribute to research on integrated and intelligent systems for more accessible and efficient monitoring solutions. As a case study, it focuses on the analysis of the static and dynamic behavior of the Edgar Cardoso stay-cable bridge during its rehabilitation, using fully customized transducers and equipment. The developed system integrates sensors capable of measuring accelerations, displacements, and temperature, which are connected to an autonomous data acquisition and transmission network. A digital interface was also developed to store, process, and visualize the collected data, enabling remote access for subsequent interpretation and analysis. The main contribution of this research lies in the use of optimized wireless monitoring systems with extended autonomy. This is achieved by employing edge computing techniques to minimize energy consumption during data transmission, as well as by managing the sleep modes of the sensor nodes. At same time, a methodology was proposed for the automatic and real-time estimation of axial forces in cables. This approach relies on the use of innovative edge computing tools, combined with the taut string theory as a simplified modelling framework. The results confirm the effectiveness of the developed system in achieving long-term operation without compromising monitoring performance. In addition, the developed system enabled the identification of the structure’s dynamic properties, particularly natural frequencies. The temperature profiles in critical sections, as well as displacements in the expansion joint were also measured and evaluated. The results demonstrate the potential of customized sensing solutions as effective tools for the management, maintenance, and long-term preservation of strategic infrastructures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4396 KB  
Article
Defect Detection in Wood Using Air-Coupled Ultrasonic Technique Based on Golay Code
by Jun Wang, Tianyou Xu and Hongyan Zou
Sensors 2025, 25(10), 3168; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25103168 - 17 May 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2205
Abstract
Air-coupled ultrasound overcomes the limitations of traditional contact-based ultrasonic methods that rely on liquid couplants. Still, it faces challenges due to the acoustic impedance mismatch between air and wood, causing significant signal scattering and attenuation. This results in weak transmission signals contaminated by [...] Read more.
Air-coupled ultrasound overcomes the limitations of traditional contact-based ultrasonic methods that rely on liquid couplants. Still, it faces challenges due to the acoustic impedance mismatch between air and wood, causing significant signal scattering and attenuation. This results in weak transmission signals contaminated by clutter and noise, compromising measurement accuracy. This study proposes a coded pulse air-coupled ultrasonic method for detecting defects in wood. The method utilizes Golay code complementary sequences (GCCSs) to generate excitation signals, with its feasibility validated through mathematical analysis and simulations. A-scan imaging was performed to analyze the differences in signal characteristics between defective and non-defective areas, while C-scan imaging facilitated a quantitative assessment of defects. Experimental results demonstrated that GCCS-enhanced signals improved the ultrasonic penetration and axial resolution compared to conventional multi-pulse excitation. The method effectively identified defects such as knots and pits, achieving a coincidence area of 85% and significantly enhancing the detection accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

25 pages, 10965 KB  
Article
Bottom Crack Detection with Real-Time Signal Amplitude Correction Using EMAT-PEC Composite Sensor
by Yizhou Guo, Yu Hu, Kai Wang, Yini Song, Bo Feng, Yihua Kang and Zhaoqi Duan
Sensors 2024, 24(16), 5196; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24165196 - 11 Aug 2024
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3155
Abstract
During electromagnetic ultrasonic testing, it is difficult to recognize small-size bottom cracks by time of flight (ToF), and the lift-off fluctuation of the probe affects the accuracy and consistency of the inspection results. In order to overcome the difficulty, a novel composite sensor [...] Read more.
During electromagnetic ultrasonic testing, it is difficult to recognize small-size bottom cracks by time of flight (ToF), and the lift-off fluctuation of the probe affects the accuracy and consistency of the inspection results. In order to overcome the difficulty, a novel composite sensor of an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) and pulse eddy current (PEC) is designed. We use the amplitude of a bottom echo recorded by EMAT to identify the tiny bottom crack as well as the amplitude of PEC signals picked up by the integrated symmetric coils to measure the average lift-off of the probe in real time. Firstly, the effects of lift-off and bottom cracks on the amplitude of bottom echo are distinguished by combining the theoretical analysis and finite element method (FEM). And then an amplitude correction method based on the fusion of EMAT and PEC signals is proposed to reduce the impact of lift-off on the defect signal. The experimental results demonstrate that the designed composite sensor can effectively detect a bottom crack as small as 0.1 mm × 0.3 mm. The signal fusion method can accurately correct the amplitude of defect signals and the relative error is less than ±8%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring: 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop