Structural self-sensing for wide societal impacts in transportation, buildings, energy and manufacturing
Real-time structural sensing is conventionally provided by embedded/attached sensors, which result in high cost, low durability, small sensing volume and the mechanical performance being diminished. This research provides structural self-sensing, i.e., the structures sensing themselves without sensor incorporation.
Project description
Structural integrity is an international societal concern. It impacts safety, transportation, commerce, energy, defense, climate-change-related sea-level rise resilience, public health, and quality of life. The structures include bridges, roads, rail, dams, sea walls, waste storage, buildings, oil/gas pipelines and wells, wind turbines, missile vertical launchers, aircraft, satellites, and 3D-printed structures. Real-time structural sensing is needed. It is conventionally provided by embedded/attached sensors, which result in high cost, low durability, small sensing volume and the mechanical performance being diminished. This research provides structural self-sensing, i.e., the structures sensing themselves without sensor incorporation. Stress/strain sensing is relevant to structural operation control, structural vibration control, and load monitoring. Examples of load monitoring include pedestrian monitoring, building HVAC-zone occupancy monitoring, oil/gas well cement pressure monitoring, and sea-wall pressure monitoring. This research focuses on real-time structural self-sensing that does not require material modification, as enabled by innovative capacitance measurement. Without material modification, the technology is widely applicable to both existing and new structures.
Project outcome
The project outcome will pertain to the sensing characteristics, i.e., the relationship between the capacitance and the condition of the structure.
Learning outcomes
The specific outcomes of this project will be identified by the faculty mentor at the beginning of your collaboration.
Project details
| Length of commitment | Longer than a semester; 6-9 months |
| Start time | Anytime |
| In-person, remote, or hybrid? | In-Person |
| Level of collaboration | Individual student project |
| Benefits | Potential academic credit (through MAE 498 or MAE 499) |
| Who is eligible? | Sophomores, juniors, and seniors |
Project mentor
Deborah Chung
SUNY Distinguished Professor
Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Start the project
- Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
- After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.)
Preparation activities
Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. After you’re approved to begin the project, your mentor will send the relevant materials. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase.
- Reading articles or books
Keywords
mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, electrical engineering, materials, structures, sensing, monitoring, smart structures