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CRACKFIRST - A NEW SENSOR SYSTEM TO ASSIST IN STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING
04 April 2005 - TWI (The Welding Institute)
| At the heart of the CrackFirst system is a fatigue sensor which, when installed on a welded steel structure, indicates the portion of the design life that's been consumed and enables engineers to estimate its remaining life. The sensors, when suitably located, are subjected to the same loading history as the structure, thus provide an accurate record of cumulative weldfatigue damage.
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At the heart of the CrackFirst system is a fatigue sensor which, when installed on a welded steel structure, indicates the portion of the design life that's been consumed and enables engineers to estimate its remaining life. The sensors, when suitably located, are subjected to the same loading history as the structure, thus provide an accurate record of cumulative weldfatigue damage. The CrackFirst sensor system is ideal for use by all industries in which fatigue of steel welded structures presents a structural performance concern. The sensors will form an important part of many structural Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS). Asset owners and maintainers will use the system to reduce the cost of safe operation. Designers and those involved in prototype testing of fatigue limited structures will value the insight that comes from the CrackFirst sensors. The following industry sectors will benefit from the availability of the CrackFirst sensor: Transportation - off-road vehicles, trucks, rail, ships
Civil engineering - bridges, masts, towers and cranes
Energy - wind towers
Process plant subjected to cyclic loading
Off-shore installations - risers, drilling rigs and production platforms
The sensor comprises a steel coupon attached adjacent to a critical joint. Stress cycles cause fatigue crack growth in the coupon that is detected electrically. For a typical fillet welded joint the sensor output gives the proportion of the fatigue design life that has been used. TWI is currently involved in the final stages of development and application of the system. The CrackFirst TM system was developed through the collaboration of TWI Ltd., FMB, Micro Circuit Engineering Ltd., UMIST and Caterpillar Peterlee (A division of Caterpillar (UK) Limited) in a project funded by the DTI's LINK Sensor and Sensor Systems for Industrial Applications Programme. Enquiries from organisations interested in using the CrackFirst sensor system are welcome.
http://www.twi.co.uk
About: TWI (The Welding Institute)
TWI Ltd, the operating arm of The Welding Institute, is one of the world's foremost independent research and technology organisations. Based at Great Abington near Cambridge since 1946, TWI provides industry with engineering solutions in structures incorporating welding and associated technologies (surfacing, coating, cutting, etc.) through - information; advice and technology transfer; consultancy and project support; contract R&D; training and qualification, personal membership.It is the only single source of expertise in every aspect of joining technology for engineering materials - metals, plastics, ceramics and composites. TWI is a non-profit distributing company, limited by guarantee and owned by its Members; it is therefore able to offer independent advice. It is internationally renowned for bringing together multidisciplinary teams to implement established or advanced joining technology or to solve problems arising at any stage - from initial design, materials selection, production and quality assurance, through to service performance and repair. Over 450 skilled staff are dedicated to helping industry apply all forms of joining technology safely and efficiently. Some 3200 companies and organisations - representing virtually all sectors of manufacturing industry from over 60 countries around the globe - benefit from TWI services. TWI undertakes contract R & D in confidence for both industry and governments. As a consultant it can offer individual experts or teams able to help solve problems of all kinds related to materials joining. It will send its specialists anywhere in the world at short notice on troubleshooting missions. |
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