MicroStrain Cloud-Enabled Bridge Monitoring System deployed to evaluate seismic isolation bearing

MicroStrain Cloud-Enabled Bridge Monitoring System deployed to evaluate seismic isolation bearing

MicroStrain’s wireless bridge monitoring system deploys rapidly and supports unlimited remote data viewing, alerting & reporting.

Unique traffic loads, environmental conditions and seismic events can exert undesirable stresses on structures such as highway bridges.
One bridge in four in the Unites States is either structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Monitoring the field performance of bridges is critical for optimizing design, maintenance and securing the long-term use.
BridgeComposites, LLC of Hornell, NY deployed a MicroStrain wireless bridge monitoring system to track the performance of seismic isolation bearings. The autonomous system continuously communicated bearing health and environmental data to engineers in real-time.
MicroStrain’s web-based data visualization and analytic tools on SensorCloud™ enabled BridgeComposites and researchers to more efficiently and cost-effectively characterize the long-term performance of bridge components.
MicroStrain’s wireless monitoring solution drastically reduced installation time compared with hardwired systems, while preserving scalable, synchronized high-speed data across any length bridge.

MicroStrain Cloud-Enabled Bridge Monitoring System deployed to evaluate seismic isolation bearingThe network was comprised of seven wireless sensor nodes including: two G-Link® accelerometer nodes, two DVRT® linear displacement transducers, two TC-Link® temperature nodes, and an SG-Link® wireless strain gauge node.
The wireless accelerometers continuously sample vibration at 16Hz. The wireless linear displacement transducers track the longitudinal bridge movement across thermal cycles, and the wireless strain gauges monitor material deformation (and stresses) that may occur during seismic events or overloads.
Extended range synchronized sampling ensured reliable data communication. Advanced energy management protocols and energy harvesting capabilities promote multi-year operation without battery replacement.
All sensor data was wirelessly aggregated via MicroStrain’s web-enabled WSDA®-1000 gateway and transmitted to SensorCloud. On SensorCloud™ BridgeComposites viewed and shared data with the bridge owner and collaborators where they could create threshold alerts that automatically send email or text notifications when a pre-determined condition was exceeded.

According to BridgeComposites President, Jerome O’Connor:

“While the system records data under an infrequent extreme event, such as an earthquake, BridgeComposites is also able to quantitatively assess continuous bearing performance remotely in real-time. Specifically, capturing the bearings behavior under traffic loading and changing environmental conditions enabled our engineers to observe response under actual service conditions.”

MicroStrain’s President and CEO Steven Arms stated:
We’re excited to work with BridgeComposites to monitor the performance of next-generation bridges with seismic isolation. Our wireless sensing networks and SensorCloud provides our customers with the long term data they need to optimize structural performance and to assess structural health.

About BridgeComposites
BridgeComposites, LLC is based In Hornell, NY and is member of the Technology Incubator associated with the University at Buffalo. It’s mission is to deploy innovative technologies for smart bridge applications, particularly the use of corrosion-resistant composite materials for bridge decks and superstructures.
Visit www.bridgecomposites.com to learn more about our company, products, and solutions.

About MicroStrain

MicroStrain of Williston, Vermont, USA is a leading manufacturer of sensing systems for demanding industrial and aerospace applications. Our range of sensing solutions include inertial measurement systems, micro-displacement transducers, wireless sensor networks, and energy harvesting technologies. MicroStrain’s sensors are used in a variety of industrial, defense, and medical applications including testing of new designs, controlling critical manufacturing processes, navigating unmanned vehicles, platform stabilization, wearable tracking systems and
wirelessly monitoring machines, structures, and environments. MicroStrain’s newest sensor data storage, visualization, and remote management platform, SensorCloud®, leverages powerful cloud computing technologies to provide sensor data to users anytime, anywhere. Recognized as a leader in the sensor industry, MicroStrain has received multiple awards for product innovation.
Visit www.microstrain.com to learn more about our company, products, and solutions.

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