EN
IT

NSHT is a distributed strain transducer consisting of a coupled system composed of an optical fiber strain sensor and a fiber-reinforced composite material that forms its resistance support and connection apparatus with the structures to be monitored and reinforced, for structural and geotechnical applications. The proposed transducer, removing many implicit limitations of conventional monitoring systems, is essential to develop innovative Early Warning (EWS) systems for geotechnical applications and “Structural Health Monitoring and Restoration” (SHMR)improvement of simple “Structural Health Monitoring” (SHM).

Patent Status

PENDING

Priority Number

102019000004679

Priority Date

28/03/2019

License

ITALY

Market

The market of interest is primarily geotechnical and structural instrumental monitoring systems capable of keeping under observation the physical phenomena underlying the initiation of landslide phenomena or the onset of structural problems. Targets:

  • Construction companies;
  • Civil Defense.

Opportunities:

  • Enel: expects +42% in Renewables, +40% in traditional networks, and +9% in thermoelectric generation;
  • Italgas: announced an investment plan (2018-2024) for the development and improvement of the distribution and transportation network;
  • Anas: in its old business plan 2016-2020 announced €4 billion in investments, of which 44% in extraordinary maintenance, 17% in new works, 36% in road network completions.

Problem

Structural and infrastructure systems are seriously threatened by a combination of adverse effects, natural (landslides, earthquakes, etc.), or man-made (traffic-induced vibrations, degradation, lack of maintenance, etc.) disasters. The problem is particularly pronounced in Italy, which is characterized by infrastructure and historical, cultural and artistic centers lacking systematic maintenance. For geotechnical applications, a traditional monitoring system, consisting of an inclinometer tube instrumented with a conventional inclinometer, has been integrated with the NSHT patented transducer, effectively creating a “smart inclinometer.” With regard to structural applications, the transducer can be installed on existing structures and infrastructure; as in geotechnical applications, the idea is to instrument the structure with a sensor placed in parallel that allows monitoring to be carried out with a high degree of certainty and, in addition, to validate the information obtained with NSHT when necessary. The system thus proposed can be considered as a SHMR or “Structural Health Monitoring and Reinforcement” system by operating reinforcement and monitoring at the same time.

Technological limits/ Solutions

Currently, most applications involving fiber optics as a sensor are based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs), such that:

  • only a small portion of the optical fiber defines the sensor
  • feedback is a point information, thus losing the advantage of having the continuous information that comes with distributed sensors
  • in case of landside monitoring, the fiber optic sensor is simply embedded in the soil thus resulting (i) in poor stress transmission between the soil and the sensor itself and (ii) damage to the sensor under natural environmental conditions
  • there might be problems with the coupling between the optical fiber and the corresponding substrate that is coupled to the system whose deformation is to be detected, inevitably leading to undesirable errors in the measurement made

Distributed strain transducers can be used for the monitoring of slopes, landslides and civil infrastructure for their continuous monitoring in order to identify when there is a need for reinforcement. In fact, distributed sensors have the advantage of observing entire sections of the structure where critical events such as cracks, injuries or failures of fasteners and joints can occur. The aim of the invention is therefore to propose an improved transducer to overcome the drawbacks of traditional solutions.

Killer Application

  • Geotechnical and structural monitoring
  • Low enthalpy geothermal energy resources
  • Long-term diagnostics of infrastructures
  • Early Warning System
  • Structural Health monitoring

Technology and our solution

The transducer is realized through a sensing core consisting of a distributed fiber optic sensor formed by an inexpensive telecommunications fiber. The sensor is integrated, making use of a hybrid glass-carbon and polyester or epoxy resin technology so that it is sandwiched between two layers of composite material appropriately sized in order to meet the requirements of strength, toughness and strain transfer efficiency, from the structural element toward the sensor. The distributed fiber optic sensor adopted is based on the well-established technique that makes use of “Brillouin scattering,” which allows in a single optical fiber to reconstruct, with high spatial resolution, the thermal and/or deformation profile, of longitudinal elements having lengths of even several hundred meters.

Advantages

The sensor containment structure in glass-carbon composite material realizes a fiber protection system that confers:

  • High Durability
  • Possibility of standardized production in plant
  • Easiness of transport
  • Compatibility of elastic modules between belts and fiber for a correct transfer of stress
  • Possible realization of important lengths
  • High adaptability to support
  • Possibility of installation in aggressive environments
  • Performing high resolution monitoring
  • Possibility of realization of EWS, SHM, SHMR systems

Roadmap

The realization of the prototype of the innovative distributed deformation transducer, the subject of the proposed invention, led to the granting of a national industrial patent with its international extension. Concurrently with the start of prototyping and propositioning activities of the new geotechnical and structural monitoring systems, engineering and development of sensors and consolidation systems was initiated with the aim of proposing on the market monitoring systems, EW and SHMR that implement within point and distributed transducers, to overcome the drawbacks of traditional and unconsolidated solutions. The experience gained has made possible the establishment of an Academic Spin-Off (Strain Srl) able to respond to the growing demand for the development and engineering of systems for structural and geotechnical monitoring and consolidation.

Review the Technology
TRL 1
TRL 1
Basic Principles
Basic principles tested
TRL 2
TRL 2
Formulation
Technology concept formulated
TRL 3
TRL 3
Proof of concept
Experimental proof of concept
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TRL 4
Laboratory Prototype
Technology validated in lab
TRL 5
TRL 5
Prototype tested on pilot-scale/large-scale
Technology validated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 6
TRL 6
Commercial prototype
Technology demonstrated in relevant environment (industrially relevant environment in the case of key enabling technologies)
TRL 7
TRL 7
Real world validation
System prototype demonstration in operational/real-world environment
TRL 8
TRL 8
First complete and commercial product
System complete and qualified
TRL 9
TRL 9
Full commercial application
Actual system proven in commercial environment (competitive manufacturing in the case of key enabling technologies; or in space)

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