Using Acoustic Sensors

to Monitor Structural
Cable Performance

Michael S. Higgins, P.E.

Pure Technologies
410-309-7050
What is a Structural Cable?
Cable Performance History

• Suspension Bridges over 120 years

• Post tensioning tendons and stay cables more recent
• Performance has been excellent
• How do we inspect/assess a cable?
Challenges of Assessing a Cable

• Main structural elements are hidden

• Corrosion or fatigue problems can be localized
• Corrosion or fatigue will not necessarily produce
visual evidence
How to Assess a Cable?
Conventional inspections rely on visual inspections
Suspension Bridge Cable

Grouted Stay Cable Post Tensioning Tendon

 Limitation
How Much ofofthe
visual
Cableinspections
is Inspected?
Exposed
Unexposed

Inspecting a 20-foot length of cable with wedging at 8

points exposes less than 0.1% of the wire for a typical
suspension bridge (4,000 foot main cable with 15,000
wires).

(Robert Nickerson (1998), “Safety Appraisal of Suspension Bride Main Cables”, National
Cooperative Highway Research Program, Transportation Research Board, Contractor’s Report
fro a Workshop in Newark, NJ)
Extrapolation?
 Limitation of Visual Inspections
Acoustic Health Monitoring for Cables

• Electronically monitor acoustic events being

transmitted through a structure
• Identify acoustic event associated
corrosion/fatigue problem
• Proven to reliably detect wire failures in cables
and tendons
Limitation of Visual Inspections
Cables & Acoustic Monitoring

• Wire failures generate significant energy release

• A few sensors can monitor entire length of cables
• Wire failures can be distinguished from ambient noise
 How Does Acoustic Monitoring Work?

Bridge Wire DAQ WWW Data Report

Break Center
 Limitation
Filtering of Visual
Ambient NoiseInspections
 Limitation
Filtering of Visual
Ambient NoiseInspections
 Limitation
Quincy of Visual
Bayview Bridge Inspections
 Limitation
Sensors ofQuincy
on the Visual Bayview
Inspections
 Limitation
Sensors ofQuincy
on the Visual Bayview
Inspections
 Limitation
Cabling on theofQuincy
VisualBayview
Inspections
 Limitation
Data of Visual
Acquisition SystemInspections
on the Quincy Bayview
 Limitation
Near ofAvailability
Real Time Visual Inspections
of Data
 Limitation
Near ofAvailability
Real Time Visual Inspections
of Data

Insert screen capture

 Limitation
Near ofAvailability
Real Time Visual Inspections
of Data
Challenges of Continuous Monitoring

• Software problems (e.g. viruses)

• Power outages
• Operating system freezes
• Power outages
• Lightening strikes
• Durability
Other Operating Acoustic Monitoring Systems
Other Operating Acoustic Monitoring Systems
Suspension Bridge Monitoring Systems
Suspension Bridge Monitoring Systems
Post-Tensioned Bridges
Who is Pure Technologies?
Combining Video and Other Sensors
Who is Pure Technologies?
Combining Video and Other Sensors
 Limitation
Complete of VisualMonitoring
Structural Inspections

Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL

• Acoustic
• Extensometers
• Strain Gages
• Tiltmeters
• Thermocouples
• Humidity
• Load Cells
Limitation
Reasons forofStructural
Visual Inspections
Health Monitoring
Systems

1. Problematic Structure
2. Proactive inspection/assessment