Smart Civil Structures - 2024 entry

The concept of a smart structure is one that has sensing and actuating capability to measure and manage its performance under loading. With a drive for sustainability and resilience achieving a balance with aesthetics and cost, structural engineers, particularly in the UK, are pushed to minimise energy and resources used in construction while ensuring that in operation structures minimise economic and societal cost when something goes wrong.

Examples are floors in open plan offices where use of concrete (whose production globally generates 10% of CO2 output) is minimised while excessive and uncomfortable vibrations are prevented using sophisticated active control technology, and Forth Road Bridge whose operators used a sophisticated sensing system to restore the bridge to full operation very soon after discovery in 2015 of a major structural fault.

Hardware and software technologies for sensing and control are presented in the context of lecturer experience implementing real-world applications.

The module aims to prepare engineers for the challenges of managing civil structures making use of advanced technologies for both sensing and mitigating structure performance due to natural and man-made loading. Permanent or temporary instrumentation (sensing) is becoming more common, and in the UK is described in CIRIA guidance on structural health monitoring (SHM).

The module aims to equip engineers to specify, install and manage SHM systems, and more importantly to be able to interpret data and information they provide in order to inform decisions on structure management, which can include intervention in the form of repair or retrofit (upgrade). This is the data to decision chain.

In the case where unacceptable performance is predicted (in design) or observed (by SHM systems) in operation, vibration control devices can be installed during construction or retrofitted. These include passive tuned mass dampers (absorbers) and active systems for control at vibration serviceability limit state (e.g. wobbly footbridges) and base isolation for control at ultimate limit state (e.g. earthquakes)

The module aims to equip engineers to know when and how to specify such vibration control capability.

Discipline and Module Intended Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

ILO #1: Give an overview of SHM systems and detailed knowledge of the elements of SHM systems

ILO #2: Establish an appropriate strategy for what to measure and how to interpret data in a SHM system for a given infrastucture

ILO #3: Determine appropriate technologies to control vibrations in structures

ILO #4: Identify innovative technologies to control vibrations

ILO #5: Demonstrate knowledge of sensor types and signal processing methods available for a given application in structural engineering

ILO #6: Identify appropriate technologies to avoid vibration problems at serviceability or ultimate limit state.

ILO #7: Visualising performance data from real world examples using MATLAB

ILO #8: Designing vibration control solutions for a range of real-world applications.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

ILO #1: Knowledge of Structural Health Monitoring Technology for Civil Infrastructures

ILO #2: Knowledge of Vibration Control Technology for Civil Infrastructures

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and Knowledge:

ILO #1: Data processing and visualisation skills with MATLAB

1: History and overview of SHM technology:
Introduction (sensing)

2: SHM in research and practice: drivers and approaches in real world applications:
Introduction (sensing)

3: Sensor types and operational principles, data formats, transmission and acquisition:
Sensors, data and acquisition

4: Data fusion:
Sensors, data and acquisition

5: Exercise on designing a SHM system for a real-world structure:
Sensors, data and acquisition

6: Basic statistics and data reduction:
Data to decision

7: Identifying correlations, patterns and anomalies:
Data to decision

8: Signal processing algorithms and data interpretation methods for dynamic (vibration) data such as Fast Fourier Transform, power spectral density, modal parameter identification:
Data to decision

9: Link to finite element model validation, updating and decision support:
Data to decision

10: Exercise with real world data set:
Data to decision

11: Passive systems (base isolation, tuned mass dampers):
Actuation for vibration control

12: Active and semi-active control:
Actuation for vibration control

13: Case studies:
Actuation for vibration control

Deferrals: Reassessment will be by coursework and/or exam in the deferred element only. For deferred candidates, the module mark will be uncapped.

Referrals: Reassessment will be by a single written exam worth 100% of the module. As it is a referral, the mark will be capped at 50%.

Reading list for this module: