Continuous Field Validation of a Wireless Structural Monitoring and Bridge Weigh-in-Motion (BWIM) System

US Transportation Collection2022PDFTech ReportBolander, PeterWang, YangGeorgia Institute of TechnologyGeorgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Performance-Based Management & ResearchUnited States. Department of Transportation. Federal Highway AdministrationGeorgia. Department of Transportation. Office of Performance-Based Management & ResearchGeorgiaUnited StatesBridgesData collectionField studiesSensorsStructural health monitoringValidationWeigh in motionWireless communication systemsWireless sensorsWireless sensor networksHighway bridgesDetection and identification systemsFHWA-GA-22-1827PI#0015718Final Report Oct 2018 \u2013 Jan 2022This report details the implementation of a wireless structural monitoring and bridge weigh-in-motion system. The goal of the project is to develop, install, and maintain a wireless structural monitoring system to perform long-term bridge weigh-in-motion. The developed system adopts the Martlet wireless sensing system for data collection and monitoring. Advancements to the Martlet system were made so that each wireless node is powered with energy harvested from solar panels. This is achieved by developing power-saving methods that allow the sensors to sleep when they are not actively capturing the bridge response to a passing truck. To detect passing trucks, distance-measuring LIDAR sensors are used in parallel with strain transducers mounted to the underside of the bridge deck. The developed system was installed at an in-service interstate highway bridge that carries the two southbound lanes of I-85 over Georgia State Route 109, outside of the city of LaGrange. Martlet sensing nodes were placed at the third points on the two middle bridge spans. The nodes can collect acceleration, strain, and temperature data. Controlled testing was performed on the bridge using a loaded dump truck with known axle weights. The data collected from the testing are used to validate the system\u2019s effectiveness at performing bridge weigh-in-motion. Following the controlled testing, the system was put into a long-term operational mode, where data are collected automatically as trucks cross the bridge. These data are then stored in the cloud, where they can be accessed to perform monitoring and bridge weigh-in-motion.128