Continuous structural monitoring of a motorway viaduct
Strain, acceleration, displacement and temperature sensing with custom acquisition nodes gives the structural engineer a modal and strain history that separates traffic and thermal effects from real change.
- Location
- France
- Duration
- 14 months
- 48synchronised channels on 6 nodes
- < 0.2%data loss over 12 months
- 1bearing fault confirmed and scheduled
The challenge
Visual inspections every three years and a single annual load test provided snapshots only. A suspected bearing problem could not be confirmed from the available data.
The site had no power at the piers and limited connectivity, and the client wanted a system that their own engineers could interpret without a specialist.
What we did
A measurement plan placed strain gauges at critical sections, accelerometers for modal identification, displacement transducers at the bearings and temperature sensors through the deck.
We designed low-power acquisition nodes with synchronised sampling, local buffering and solar supply, communicating over a cellular link to a central store.
Signal processing removes traffic-induced response and temperature effects, so the engineer sees a trend in modal frequencies and bearing movement that reflects the structure itself.
The outcome
The bearing problem was confirmed and prioritised from the displacement record. The engineering team now reviews a monthly condition page and receives an alert if any indicator moves outside its envelope.
A representative engagement. The figures are indicative of typical outcomes for this kind of work and are not drawn from a named client.
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