Sensors for Integrated Monitoring and Mitigation of Scour

• US 20120112738A1
• Filed: 05/10/2011
• Published: 05/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Original Assignee: Curators of the University of Missouri (University of Missouri)
• Inventors: Chen, Genda, Pommerenke, David, Zhou, Zhi, Huang, Ying
• Application Number:
  US13/104,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20120112738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/239
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/022 Measuring gradient

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting scour. Some embodiments provide systems which include a sensor and a signal generator with a combined density equal to or greater than that of water. Optionally, the sensor can be a magnet, magnetic resonator, or accelerometer. In some embodiments, the sensor is adapted to be placed in regions potentially subject to scour and to sense a scour-related condition. The signal generator generates a wireless signal conveying data regarding the as-sensed scour-related. In some embodiments the sensor is the signal generator while a receiver of the wireless signal can include an antenna, a magnetometer, or an ultrasonic sensor. In some embodiments, the housing is conic and the magnetic object is offset from the center of gravity of the coupled sensor, signal generator and housing.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing a sensor with a density about equal to or greater than the density of water at a location where the water is expected to flow thereby potentially causing the scour wherein the sensor comprises an object configured to alter a magnetic field in a vicinity of the sensor responsive to a change in a scour-related condition at about the location of the sensor;

allowing a change to occur in the scour-related condition at about the location of the sensor; and

allowing the sensor to cause a wireless signal to propagate through the water to convey data regarding the change in the scour-related condition at about the location of the sensor.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor further comprises a signal generator in communication with the object configured to alter the magnetic field and wherein the signal generator is configured to cause the wireless signal.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the signal generator is a selected from the group consisting of a passive magnet, an active magnet, a magnetic resonator, an accelerometer or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the object configured to alter the magnetic field is the signal generator.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving the wireless signal and correlating the data conveyed to determine the change in the scour-related condition.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising creating the sensor by placing the object configured to alter a magnetic field in a housing of the sensor and filling a gap between the object configured to alter a magnetic field and the housing with a settable gap-filler material.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the density of the sensor is between about 1.2 g/cm̂

3 and about 5.3. g/cm̂

3.

8. A system for measuring hydraulic scour near a foundation of a bridge and caused by water flowing near the bridge, the system comprising:

at least one sensor including a magnetic object submerged in the water and possessing a density of between about 1.2 g/cm̂

3 and about 5.3. g/cm̂

3;

a magnetometer positioned at least near the bridge and being configured to sense a magnetic field of the magnetic object through the water and to output an indication of the magnetic field of the magnetic object through the water; and

a circuit in communication with the magnetometer and being configured to determine a scour-related condition based on the indication of the magnetic field of the magnetic object as sensed through the water.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the sensor further comprises an accelerometer to sense an acceleration of the sensor and wherein the sensor further comprises a transmitter to transmit data regarding the sensed acceleration to the circuit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the sensor is adapted to output the indication of the magnetic field when the accelerometer senses more than a threshold amount of movement of the sensor.

11. A system for measuring scour, the system comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to be placed in a region where water is expected to flow thereby causing scour and to sense a condition related to the scour;

a signal generator configured to generate a wireless signal to convey data regarding the as-sensed scour-related condition and for receipt by a receiver; and

the sensor and the signal generator together possessing a density about equal to or greater than the density of the water.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor is the signal generator.

13. The system of claim 11 further comprising the receiver.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the receiver further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of an antenna, a magnetometer, an ultrasonic sensor, or a combination thereof.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the density of the coupled sensor and signal generator is between about 1.2 g/cm̂

3 and about 5.3. g/cm̂

3.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor is a magnetic object.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the sensor and signal generator are coupled by a housing.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein a location of the magnetic object is offset from a center of gravity of the coupled sensor, signal generator, and housing.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the housing is approximately conic in shape.

20. The system of claim 17 further comprising gap-filler material between the housing and the magnetic object.