Smart aggregate-based seismic stress monitoring system using a specially designed charge amplifier

Abstract

The potential of smart aggregate for seismic stress monitoring has been identified, but only moderate dynamic stress of relatively high frequency can be measured reliably due to the limitations of conventional charge amplifiers. To improve the performance of smart aggregate-based monitoring systems, a charge amplifier was designed especially for the demands of seismic stress monitoring. Its performance was tested in the low frequency range down to 0.05 Hz with high charge input up to 2 × 10⁷ pC representing stress up to 100 MPa by feeding it frequency-sweep charge signals. With the specially designed amplifier, the performance of the smart aggregate-based monitoring system was tested in both frequency-sweep and amplitude-sweep loading tests, and the influence of lead zirconate titanate depolarization was evaluated at static loads of 4.8, 14.4, and 24 MPa. The results show that the demands of seismic monitoring with a smart aggregate-based system can be satisfied, and that the sensitivity of the system remains constant under dynamic loads up to at least 45 MPa.

Keywords

smart aggregate lead zirconate titanate compressive stress charge amplifier seismic monitoring

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Brüel Kjær (2015) Charge amplifier—type 2635. Available at: http://www.bksv.com/Products/transducers/conditioning/charge/2635?tab=descriptions

Celebi

(2006a) Real-time seismic monitoring of the New Cape Girardeau Bridge and preliminary analyses of recorded data: an overview. Earthquake Spectra 22: 609–630.

Celebi

(2006b) Recorded earthquake responses from the integrated seismic monitoring network of the Atwood Building, Anchorage, Alaska. Earthquake Spectra 22: 847–864.

Ferrari

Gatti

(1999) Applied Structural and Mechanical Vibrations: Theory, Methods and Measuring Instrumentation. Boca Raton, FL: Spon Press.

Global Sensor Technology (2013) Charge amplifier YE 5852. Available at: http://www.globalsensortech.com/signal-amplifiers-conditioners-filters/charge-amplifiers/general-purpose/charge-amplifier-ye5852

Moslehy

Sanders

. (2010) Multi-functional smart aggregate-based structural health monitoring of circular reinforced concrete columns subjected to seismic excitations. Smart Materials and Structures 19: 65026.

Song

Dhonde

. (2006) Concrete early-age strength monitoring using embedded piezoelectric transducers. Smart Materials and Structures 15: 1837–1845.

Han

(2007) Embedded piezoresistive cement-based stress/strain sensor. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 138: 294–298.

Han

(2009) Experimental study on use of nickel powder-filled Portland cement-based composite for fabrication of piezoresistive sensors with high sensitivity. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 149: 51–55.

10.

Hou

Zhang

(2012) A PZT-based smart aggregate for compressive seismic stress monitoring. Smart Materials and Structures 21: 105035.

11.

Kistler (2015) Charge amplifier—type 5015A. Available at: http://www.kistler.com/us/en/search/?no_cache=1&tx_kesearch_pi1[sword]=5015&tx_kesearch_pi1[page]=1&tx_kesearch_pi1[resetFilters]=0&tx_kesearch_pi1[sortByField]=&tx_kesearch_pi1[sortByDir]=

12.

Laskar

. (2009) Progressive collapse of a two-story reinforced concrete frame with embedded smart aggregates. Smart Materials and Structures 18: 75001.

13.

Yang

(2006) Application of cement-based piezoelectric sensors for monitoring traffic flows. Journal of Transportation Engineering 132: 565–573.

14.

Miranda

Bertero

(1996) Seismic performance of an instrumented ten-storey reinforced concrete building. Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics 25: 1041–1059.

15.

Moslehy

Belarbi

. (2010) Smart aggregate based damage detection of circular RC columns under cyclic combined loading. Smart Materials and Structures 19: 65021.

16.

Naeim

(1998) Performance of 20 extensively-instrumented buildings during the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Structural Design of Tall Buildings 7: 179–194.

17.

Rodgers

Celebi

(2006) Seismic response and damage detection analyses of an instrumented steel moment-framed building. Journal of Structural Engineering 132: 1543–1552.

18.

Song

. (2005) Health monitoring of a concrete structure using piezoceramic materials. In: Proceedings of the SPIE 5765, smart structures and materials 2005: sensors and smart structures technologies for civil, mechanical, and aerospace systems (ed Tomizuka

), San Diego, CA, 6 March, pp. 108–119. Bellingham, WA: SPIE.

19.

Song

Olmi

(2007) An overheight vehicle-bridge collision monitoring system using piezoelectric transducers. Smart Materials and Structures 16: 462–468.

20.

Uang

Sadre

. (1997) Seismic response of an instrumented 13-story steel frame building damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Earthquake Spectra 13: 131–149.

21.

Xiao

(2010) Modeling of piezoresistivity of carbon black filled cement-based composites under multi-axial strain. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 160: 87–93.

22.

Xiao

(2011) Strain sensing properties of cement-based sensors embedded at various stress zones in a bending concrete beam. Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 167: 581–587.

23.

Yan

Sun

Song

. (2009) Health monitoring of reinforced concrete shear walls using smart aggregates. Smart Materials and Structures 18: 47001.

24.

Yang

Ding

. (2005) Test on sensor effect of cement matrix piezoelectric composite. Transactions of Tianjin University 11: 133–136.