RFID-Based Crack Detection of Ultra High-Performance Concrete Retrofitted Beams

Abstract

Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a novel material with multiple known uses and many still yet to be discovered. Recently, the use of encasing welded shear studs in UHPC on the web of corroded steel beams was developed. This creates a bearing force transfer mechanism to bypass the corroded web plate. This new material and its uses come with many uncertainties in the short and long term. Structural health monitoring (SHM) can be a tool to observe the development. Specifically, radio frequency technology (RFID) can be used. RFID has existed commercially since the 1960s and has been used as a crack sensor before, but never with UHPC. RFID-based crack sensing is being used to monitor the UHPC retrofit. A crack is simulated on the UHPC specimen and then a commercial, low cost tag is secured. Using backscatter power, the tag reads the crack existence and its increasing volume with every new damage stage. Using a damage index, comparing the uncracked and each cracked stage, this method is not restricted to the raw received signal strength indicator (RSSI), which could be different at each tag. With this sensor, the small cracks that occur in UHPC during its creation can be monitored to ensure the capacity of the retrofitting is maintained. The tested RFID-based crack sensor can be used on various other forms of UHPC.

Application of Rotation Rate Sensors in Modal and Vibration Analyses of Reinforced Concrete Beams

“…For this purpose, full scale, 6-m long, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) beams were measured in intact and partly damaged states in laboratory conditions. The monitoring of vibrations of concrete and UHPC beams brings particular challenges to the field of SHM (see, e.g., [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]). For these reasons, the application of rotation rate sensors in the modal extraction and vibration analyses of these beams can bring particular advantages.…”

Traceability of printed circuit board assemblies using embedded electronic components

“…9 Cross-section of solder joints for the sample produced in variant V1 using epoxy resin particularly the samples fabricated with epoxy resin, may cause electrical breaks in the connection between antennas and chips and make the traceability system inoperable. This damage can also be used for the detection of possible exposure of monitored electronic devices on different environmental factors, similar to a solution described in [41]. It is planned to perform further research in this field.…”

A Review of Radio Frequency Identification Sensing Systems for Structural Health Monitoring

“…The theory of backscatter power can also be used to detect cracks in non-metallic materials, such as concrete [ 22 , 39 ], and fiberglass combined material [ 40 ]. Using the backscatter power, the tag can detect propagation of ultra-high-performance concrete cracks [ 22 , 39 ].…”

“…Taking the RFID antenna as a sensor, it can detect cracks [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ], corrosion [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], or stress [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ] in structures. These defects can cause changes in the RFID signal, such as radar cross section (RCS) [ 20 , 21 ], received signal strength indicator (RSSI) [ 17 , 22 ], phase [ 10 , 23 , 24 ], S-parameters [ 25 , 26 ], and turn on power [ 9 , 15 ]. As a means of communication and energy harvesting, wireless sensor nodes formed by RFID combined with low-power sensing technology are also suitable for SHM applications.…”