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Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 13916

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. I3N & Physics Department of the Aveiro University, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
2. Instituto de Telecomunicações, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: optical fiber sensors; e-Health platforms; structural health monitoring; biosensing
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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, Porto, 4099-002 Portugal
Interests: seismic engineering; structural analysis; seismic design; RC structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The evolution and need for the preservation and maintenance of existing structures, recent or historical, has fostered research in the area of structural monitoring and translated into the development of new techniques, equipment and sensors. The early detection of damage and the accurate assessment of structural safety require monitoring systems, the data of which can be used to calibrate numerical models for structural analysis, and to assess their safety. Data are obtained under real-time conditions, considering a group of parameters related to structural properties such as stresses, accelerations, deformations and displacements. The analysis of structural properties is particularly relevant when the structure is subjected to extreme events (earthquakes, wind, fire, explosions, among others) or by repeated loads (road/rail/air traffic, vibrations induced by equipment and machines), since they affect the structural integrity and put users at risk. In order to prevent the severe damage and eventual collapse of the structures, as well as the consequent human, material and economic losses, monitoring systems become valuable tools for today's society.

Structure monitoring is becoming increasingly important, not only for preventive actions, but also because of economic and sustainability concerns; it can help to ensure a safer and more comfortable built environment. Identifying structural damage and monitoring its evolution requires the development of sensing and structural monitoring techniques. Among these detection technologies are optical sensors, which have advantages such as immunity to electromagnetic interference, high sensitivity, reduced size and mass and minimal aesthetic invasion.

Following the success of our Sensors Special Issue on “Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring”, we would like to once again invite our colleagues from across the world to contribute their expertise, insights and findings in the form of original research articles and reviews to the current Special Issue, entitled “Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II”. This Special Issue will continue to focus on the current state-of-the-art of optical sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM), covering recent technological improvements in new devices/sensors and emerging applications. The Guest Editors intend to provide an overview of the present status and future perspectives of the aforementioned topics in this Special Issue.

The manuscripts should cover topics including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Physical, chemical, and environmental optical sensors for SHM;
  • Interferometric and polarimetric sensors;
  • Nano- and micro-structured fiber sensors, including fiber gratings and photonic crystal fibers;
  • Multiplexing and sensor networking;
  • Distributed sensing;
  • Advances in interrogation techniques for optical sensing;
  • Smart structures and sensors;
  • Bragg gratings, Fabry–Perot cavities, and plasmonic and Mach–Zehnder interferometers;
  • SHM case studies using optical technologies;
  • Low-cost, miniaturized, and selective and multiparameter optical devices;
  • Energy-efficient SHM integrated platforms;
  • Big data analysis for SHM;
  • SHM advanced signal processing techniques.

Dr. Paulo Antunes
Prof. Dr. Humberto Varum
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 16552 KiB  
Article
Robust Multi-Modal Image Registration for Image Fusion Enhancement in Infrastructure Inspection
by Sara Shahsavarani, Fernando Lopez, Clemente Ibarra-Castanedo and Xavier P. V. Maldague
Sensors 2024, 24(12), 3994; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24123994 - 20 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1500
Abstract
Efficient multi-modal image fusion plays an important role in the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of infrastructures, where an essential challenge is the precise visualizing of defects. While automatic defect detection represents a significant advancement, the determination of the precise location of both surface and [...] Read more.
Efficient multi-modal image fusion plays an important role in the non-destructive evaluation (NDE) of infrastructures, where an essential challenge is the precise visualizing of defects. While automatic defect detection represents a significant advancement, the determination of the precise location of both surface and subsurface defects simultaneously is crucial. Hence, visible and infrared data fusion strategies are essential for acquiring comprehensive and complementary information to detect defects across vast structures. This paper proposes an infrared and visible image registration method based on Euclidean evaluation together with a trade-off between key-point threshold and non-maximum suppression. Moreover, we employ a multi-modal fusion strategy to investigate the robustness of our image registration results. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II)
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17 pages, 6296 KiB  
Article
Improved 3D Pavement Texture Reconstruction Method Based on Interference Fringe via Optimizing the Post-Processing Method
by Chu Chu, Ya Wei and Haipeng Wang
Sensors 2023, 23(10), 4660; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23104660 - 11 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1612
Abstract
The surface quality of pavement has a significant influence on the driving comfort and the skid resistance performance of roads. The 3D pavement texture measurement provides the basis for engineers to calculate the pavement performance index, such as the international roughness index (IRI), [...] Read more.
The surface quality of pavement has a significant influence on the driving comfort and the skid resistance performance of roads. The 3D pavement texture measurement provides the basis for engineers to calculate the pavement performance index, such as the international roughness index (IRI), the texture depth (TD), and the rutting depth index (RDI), of different types of pavements. The interference-fringe-based texture measurement is widely used because of its high accuracy and high resolution, by which the 3D texture measurement has excellent accuracy in measuring the texture of workpieces with a diameter of <30 mm. When measuring the engineering products with a larger area (or larger areas), such as pavement surfaces, however, the accuracy is deficient because unequal incident angles due to the beam-divergence angle of the laser beam are ignored during the postprocessing of the measured data. This study aims to improve the accuracy of 3D pavement texture reconstruction based on the interference fringe (3D-PTRIF) by considering the influence of the unequal incident angles during postprocessing. It is found that the improved 3D-PTRIF has better accuracy than the traditional 3D-PTRIF, reducing the reconstruction errors between the measured value and the standard value by 74.51%. In addition, it solves the problem of a reconstructed slant surface, which deviates from the horizontal plane of the original surface. Compared to the traditional post-processing method, for the case of smooth surface, the slope can be decreased by 69.00%; for the case of coarse surface, the slope can be decreased by 15.29%. The results of this study will facilitate accurate quantifying of the pavement performance index by using the interference fringe technique, such as IRI, TD, and RDI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II)
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12 pages, 37140 KiB  
Article
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Reinforcing Bar Slippage Detection and Bond-Slip Gradient Characterization
by Luis Pereira, Esequiel Mesquita, Nélia Alberto, José Melo, Carlos Marques, Paulo Antunes, Paulo S. André and Humberto Varum
Sensors 2022, 22(22), 8866; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22228866 - 16 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1723
Abstract
The detection of bond-slip between the reinforcing bar (RB) and concrete is of great importance to ensure the safety of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The techniques to monitor the connection between the RB and concrete are in constant development, with special focus on [...] Read more.
The detection of bond-slip between the reinforcing bar (RB) and concrete is of great importance to ensure the safety of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. The techniques to monitor the connection between the RB and concrete are in constant development, with special focus on the ones with straightforward operation and simple non-intrusive implementation. In this work, a simple configuration is developed using 10 optical fiber sensors, allowing different sections of the same RC structure to be monitored. Since the RB may suffer different strains along its length, the location of the sensors is critical to provide an early warning about any displacement. Bragg gratings were inscribed in both silica and polymer optical fibers and these devices worked as displacement sensors by monitoring the strain variations on the fibers. The results showed that these sensors can be easily implemented in a civil construction environment, and due to the small dimensions, they can be a non-intrusive technique when multiple sensors are implemented in the same RC structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II)
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17 pages, 7177 KiB  
Article
Research and Application of Multi-Mode Joint Monitoring System for Shaft Wall Deformation
by Xinqiu Fang, Fan Zhang, Zongshen Shi, Minfu Liang and Yang Song
Sensors 2022, 22(17), 6551; https://doi.org/10.3390/s22176551 - 30 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1910
Abstract
The mine shaft is an important channel linking the underground with the surface, undertaking important functions such as personnel and material transportation and ventilation. Thus the shaft, known as the throat of the mine, is the production hub of the whole mine. Since [...] Read more.
The mine shaft is an important channel linking the underground with the surface, undertaking important functions such as personnel and material transportation and ventilation. Thus the shaft, known as the throat of the mine, is the production hub of the whole mine. Since 1980, damage to coal mine shafts has occurred in many areas of China, which has seriously impacted the safety of mine production. Therefore, real-time monitoring of the shaft wall condition is necessary. However, the traditional monitoring method cannot achieve long-term, continuous and stable monitoring of the shaft wall due to the harsh production environment downhole. Hence, a multi-mode joint sensing system for shaft wall deformation and damage is proposed, which is mainly based on FBG sensing and supplemented by vibrating-string sensing. The principle of FBG sensing is that when the external environment such as temperature, pressure and strain changes, the characteristics of light transmission in the FBG such as wavelength, phase and amplitude will also change accordingly. Using the linear relationship between the strain and the wavelength shift of the FBG, the strain of the measured structure is obtained by calculation. Firstly, this paper introduces the basic situations of the mine and analyzes the causes shaft damage. Then the vertical and circumferential theoretical values at different shaft depths are derived in combination with the corresponding force characteristics. Moreover, a four-layer strain transfer structure model of the shaft consisting of the fiber, the protective layer, the bonding layer and the borehole wall is established, which leads to the derivation of the strain transfer relational expression for the surface-mounted FBG sensing on the shaft wall. The strain-sensing transfer law and the factors influencing the strain-sensing transfer of the surface-mounted FBG on the shaft wall are analyzed. The order of key factors influencing the strain-sensing transfer is obtained by numerical simulation: the radius of the protective layer, the length of the FBG paste, and the elastic modulus of the adhesive layer. The packaging parameters with the best strain-sensing transfer of the surface-mounted FBG on the shaft wall are determined. A total of six horizontal level monitoring stations are arranged in a coal mine auxiliary shaft. Through the comprehensive analysis of the sensing data of the two sensors, the results show that the average shaft wall strain–transfer efficiency measured by the FBG sensor reaches 94.02%. The relative average error with the theoretical derivation of shaft wall transfer efficiency (98.6%) is 4.65%, which verifies the strain transfer effect of the surface-mounted FBG applied to the shaft wall. The shaft wall’s deformation monitoring system with FBG sensing as the main and vibrating-string sensing as the supplement is important to realize the early warning of well-wall deformation and further research of the shaft wall rupture mechanism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II)
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Review

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22 pages, 14830 KiB  
Review
A Review: Non-Contact and Full-Field Strain Mapping Methods for Experimental Mechanics and Structural Health Monitoring
by Wei Meng, Sergei M. Bachilo, R. Bruce Weisman and Satish Nagarajaiah
Sensors 2024, 24(20), 6573; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24206573 - 12 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1321
Abstract
Non-contact and full-field strain mapping captures strain across an entire surface, providing a complete two-dimensional (2D) strain distribution without attachment to sensors. It is an essential technique with wide-ranging applications across various industries, significantly contributing to experimental mechanics and structural health monitoring. Although [...] Read more.
Non-contact and full-field strain mapping captures strain across an entire surface, providing a complete two-dimensional (2D) strain distribution without attachment to sensors. It is an essential technique with wide-ranging applications across various industries, significantly contributing to experimental mechanics and structural health monitoring. Although there have been reviews that focus on specific methods, such as interferometric techniques or carbon nanotube-based strain sensors, a comprehensive comparison that evaluates these diverse methods together is lacking. This paper addresses this gap by focusing on strain mapping techniques specifically used in experimental mechanics and structural health monitoring. The fundamental principles of each method are illustrated with specific applications. Their performance characteristics are compared and analyzed to highlight strengths and limitations. The review concludes by discussing future challenges in strain mapping, providing insights into potential advancements and developments in this critical field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II)
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40 pages, 15664 KiB  
Review
Fiber Optic Sensing Technology and Vision Sensing Technology for Structural Health Monitoring
by Haojie Wang, Jin-Kun Guo, Han Mo, Xikang Zhou and Yiping Han
Sensors 2023, 23(9), 4334; https://doi.org/10.3390/s23094334 - 27 Apr 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4727
Abstract
Structural health monitoring is currently a crucial measure for the analysis of structural safety. As a structural asset management approach, it can provide a cost-effective measure and has been used successfully in a variety of structures. In recent years, the development of fiber [...] Read more.
Structural health monitoring is currently a crucial measure for the analysis of structural safety. As a structural asset management approach, it can provide a cost-effective measure and has been used successfully in a variety of structures. In recent years, the development of fiber optic sensing technology and vision sensing technology has led to further advances in structural health monitoring. This paper focuses on the basic principles, recent advances, and current status of applications of these two sensing technologies. It provides the reader with a broad review of the literature. It introduces the advantages, limitations, and future directions of these two sensing technologies. In addition, the main contribution of this paper is that the integration of fiber optic sensing technology and vision sensing technology is discussed. This paper demonstrates the feasibility and application potential of this integration by citing numerous examples. The conclusions show that this new integrated sensing technology can effectively utilize the advantages of both fields. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Sensors for Structural Health Monitoring II)
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