Sensors for safer bridges

(ASR&D) is working on a

contract with the

civil engineering Professor Dr. Dimitrios Goulias. Together, they will test sensors that measure the temperature of concrete in structures such as bridges during the lifespan of the concrete.

Hardening at the wrong temperature can cause concrete to become unstable and crack, creating safety hazards and expensive repairs. During the Chesapeake Bay Bridge renovation in 2002, $60m was spent on general repairs that included re-paving with concrete. Some reports suggest that the new pavement began to crack shortly afterwards and an additional $7m was put into the project. Later, inspections proved that the cracking was a result of low curing temperatures.

‘Many current structural heath inspection processes, particularly in the US, are completely manual and labour intensive,’ said Jacqueline H Hines, president of ASR&D. ‘Teams of engineers spend hours or even days climbing up and down scaffolding. The sensors we are developing will provide a continuous wireless monitoring capability.’