Abstract

Deflection measurements on bridges, especially with regards to long-term bridge monitoring, continues to be a challenge with current technological capabilities. Material degradation and changes in the mechanical properties due to aging (for example, creep and shrinkage in concrete bridges) directly impact the vertical deflections exhibited by a structure. This presentation discusses a novel laser and video-based displacement transducer (LVBDT) to monitor displacements and rotations in structures remotely. In contrast to other video-based approaches, the sensor is located at the measurement location on the structure. Ongoing laboratory tests include sensor configuration under both static and dynamic displacements to determine the applicability, accuracy, and limitations of the sensor. Sensor configuration, sensing approach and methodology, and preliminary laboratory testing results will be presented and discussed in this paper. Essential for field implementation, the results demonstrate the sensing approach to be robust, accurate, reliable, and inexpensive.

How to Cite:

Brown, N., Schumacher, T. & Vicente, M., (2019) “A laser and video-based displacement transducer for the monitoring of bridge deflections”, Review of Progress in Quantitative Nondestructive Evaluation .