Structural health monitoring system of a cable-stayed bridge using a dense array of scalable smart sensor network

This paper presents a structural health monitoring (SHM) system using a dense array of scalable smart wireless sensor network on a cable-stayed bridge (Jindo Bridge) in Korea. The hardware and software for the SHM system and its components are developed for low-cost, efficient, and autonomous monitoring of the bridge. 70 sensors and two base station computers have been deployed to monitor the bridge using an autonomous SHM application with consideration of harsh outdoor surroundings. The performance of the system has been evaluated in terms of hardware durability, software reliability, and power consumption. 3-D modal properties were extracted from the measured 3-axis vibration data using output-only modal identification methods. Tension forces of 4 different lengths of stay-cables were derived from the ambient vibration data on the cables. For the integrity assessment of the structure, multi-scale subspace system identification method is now under development using a neural network technique based on the local mode shapes and the cable tensions.