Structural Health Monitoring

• What is Structural Health Monitoring and Response?

Sometimes called SHM, SHRM or S²HM, Structural Health Monitoring and Response (SHM) is an innovative method of monitoring structural status and performance without otherwise affecting the structure itself. SHM utilises several types of sensors embedded in—or attached to—a structure to detect exceedance of allowed performance criteria as well as to identify and verify structural behaviour. 

Methodology & Technology

• Why employ SHM?

Natural or human-made events, as well as increased levels of use, can considerably reduce the strength and serviceability of a structure. By utilising SHM systems, timely notifications about any potential problems can be generated and behaviour of the structure can be monitored. The emerging use of Structural Health Monitoring and Response, especially in the last decade, is a result of the increasing need for the monitoring of innovative designs and materials, as well as a better management of existing structures.

Instrumentation of a structure will depend on the type of structure being monitored, its uses, its physical characteristics, etc, so an SHM solution for a bridge will look different than an SHM solution for a high-rise building. However, the principle remains the same: sensors are strategically placed on the structure and are connected to a recorder. As the data comes in and is recorded, it is sent to software that analyses the data and compares it to predetermined performance parameters. When there are significant enough exceedances, notification, alerts or alarms are triggered.

• What are the advantages of Structural Health Monitoring and Response?

GeoSIG Structural Health Monitoring and Response systems not only help in reducing risks and costs, but also help in avoiding disaster by providing notifications that can be followed up to initiate early damage detection and therefore help save lives as well as assets. In the event of evacuation of a structure due to a transient event (such as an earthquake), the system is able to rapidly evaluate the structural response, thus providing a highly useful measure for decision making whether to allow occupants back in or to initiate a more comprehensive inspection before doing so.

The ideal GeoSIG SHM system provides the end user with on-demand information about their structure’s measured features, as well as warnings concerning any exceedance detected. Therefore SHM also significantly reduces repair costs through early damage detection, making the monitored structure safer and increasing the cost efficiency of its maintenance. This is why SHM can significantly reduce insurance premiums for those operating or overseeing the safety of infrastructure such as bridges, railways or tunnels. SHM provides increased understanding of in-situ structural behaviour and decreased down-time for inspection and repair.
 

Further reading

We have more information on this topic in the form of a scientific paper entitled, "Black Box Concept Can Help Promote Widespread Use of S2HM," which can be found here and in our Downloads section.

We also have two informational videos, also available on our YouTube channel: