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IPOD Abstract for presentation (Poster or Podium) with a Paper in the Conference Proceedings

Data Sensing and Analytics

1667566 - Highway Expansion Joint Behaviors based on Long-term Field Measurement using Wireless Sensor Network

Tuesday, June 18, 2024

10:20 AM - 10:40 AM ET

Room: 218

Primary Author(s)

Prakash Bhandari, 20 (he/him/his)

PhD Student
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT, United States

Presenter(s)

Prakash Bhandari, 20 (he/him/his)

PhD Student
University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT, United States

Co-Author(s)

SJ

Shinae Jang, Ph.D., P.E.

Professor in Residence and Director of Undergraduate Studies
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut, United States
SH

Song Han, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut, United States
RM

Ramesh B. Malla, Ph.D., F. ASCE, F. EMI, A.F. AIAA

Professor
University of Connecticut, Dept. of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Submitter(s)

SJ

Shinae Jang, Ph.D., P.E.

University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut, United States

Abstract: Aging bridges and increased traffic on them in the nation have raised concerns about their performance and the need for their effective monitoring to assess their condition in order to ensure public safety and implement maintenance strategies. Currently, various techniques for monitoring bridges, including optical, thermal, photogrammetry, and vibration-based methods, are being investigated. However, due to the complexity and cost of these methods, bridge owners still rely primarily on visual inspections. To address this problem in this paper, a new highway bridge joint monitoring system consisting of ultrasonic sensor and wireless communication was developed based on the requirements set by state departments of transportation. This system incorporates key requirements for a long-term bridge monitoring system, including real-time remote monitoring, low cost, resilience against environmental damage, long-term data collection, and minimal power consumption. The custom off-the-shelf wireless sensors were integrated with a smart wireless communication system based on the 6TiSCH network protocol, along with a cloud-based data server. To enhance sensor reliability and accuracy, an analytical model to correct the error due to environmental factors was developed. The developed system was deployed on an in-service bridge in Coventry, Connecticut, with a specific focus on monitoring expansion joints. Real-time data on girder temperature, humidity, and longitudinal movements of the bridge superstructure under the expansion joint were collected over a 56-day period. Post-processing and analysis of the joint monitoring data were conducted to identify the behavior of the expansion joint and superstructure under temperature changes and other loading factors. The monitoring results have provided displacement range and girder end rotation under daily and long-term temperature fluctuation. The results obtained from this monitoring will be valuable for the updating of the design practices and maintenance of expansion joint and bearings.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:

Upon completion, participants will be able to know the current status and challenges in the expansion joint monitoring in the United States.
Upon completion, participants will be able to know the schematics and components of the novel wireless sensor system to monitor expansion joints of bridges.
Upon completion, participants will be able to know the behavior of the expansion joints of a typical US bridge under temperature fluctuation.