Description:
EngAnalysis were engaged with the challenge of designing a structural monitoring system that was to be installed during the construction of a 5 story steel framed building at a University campus.
Working with the University Engineering Faculty and closely with the construction company, EngAnalysis were able to install sensors on all floors from the ground floor up to the top floor. The intensive construction schedule with completion due before the start of 2020 Lectures required our team to grow and shrink with construction progression as the locations for sensor mounting become accessible.
Fire proofing materials present on all steel members presented us with a unique installation requirement of removal and reinstate of the materials after sensors were in-place and tested to confirm operation.
Sensors were positioned throughout the building to measure/detect movement of the structure and also the behaviour of the structure to climatic changes and internal loadings. The system contained the following sensor types:
- Accelerometers
- Full Bridge strain
- Quarter bridge strain
- Embedded concrete strain and temperature
- Vibrating wire strain
57 pairs of accelerometers were installed on all 5 floors to detect lateral movements of the building structure
3 zones of major structural frame were instrumented with Full bridge strain gauges
For the 3 zones a total of 86 Full bridge strain gauges were installed on all the structural members to measure and record for the long term…
A Concrete slab area was selected and installed with sensors that were embedded in the pour, including the upper and lower surfaces of the concrete for measuring the Rebar, Bondek and concrete behaviours. A steel member central span was gauged and the Bondek, Rebar and concrete directly above also instrumented.
A networked array of 8 National Instruments DAQ units were installed around the building to gather the data from the sensors for analysis and long term data logging.