Method for measuring the structural health of a civil structure
First Claim
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1. A method for determining structural health of a bridge comprising:
- (a) measuring a plurality of cardinal points fixed to said bridge from a plurality of locations, whereinat least one retroreflector is attached to each of said cardinal points, a plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments are mounted in a stable reference coordinate system, and a central processor coordinates said plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments;
(b) measuring at least;
a first range from a first electronic distance measurement instrument to a first cardinal point, a second range from a second electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, and a third range from a third electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, whereinsaid first electronic distance measurement instrument is at a first location,said second electronic distance measurement instrument is at a second location,said third electronic distance measurement instrument is at a third location, and whereinsaid first location, said second location, and said third location are three different locations;
(c) storing at least said first, second, and third ranges;
(d) computing a first three dimensional coordinate of said first cardinal point, in said stable reference coordinate system, based at least in part on said first, second, and third ranges;
(e) determining at least a first structural health parameter of said bridge based at least in part on said first three dimensional coordinate;
(f) storing said first structural health parameter.
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Abstract
Methods are disclosed wherein the structural health of a civil structure, such as, but not limited to, a bridge or the like is measured by electronic distance measurement from a plurality of stable locations to a plurality of cardinal points on the structure in a methodical manner. By measuring the coordinates of the cardinal points, the dynamic and long-term static behavior of the structure provide an indication of the health of the structure. Analysis includes; comparison to a Finite Element Model (FEM), comparison to historical data, linearity, hysteresis, symmetry, creep, damping coefficient, and harmonic terms.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for determining structural health of a bridge comprising:
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(a) measuring a plurality of cardinal points fixed to said bridge from a plurality of locations, wherein at least one retroreflector is attached to each of said cardinal points, a plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments are mounted in a stable reference coordinate system, and a central processor coordinates said plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments; (b) measuring at least;
a first range from a first electronic distance measurement instrument to a first cardinal point, a second range from a second electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, and a third range from a third electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, whereinsaid first electronic distance measurement instrument is at a first location, said second electronic distance measurement instrument is at a second location, said third electronic distance measurement instrument is at a third location, and wherein said first location, said second location, and said third location are three different locations; (c) storing at least said first, second, and third ranges; (d) computing a first three dimensional coordinate of said first cardinal point, in said stable reference coordinate system, based at least in part on said first, second, and third ranges; (e) determining at least a first structural health parameter of said bridge based at least in part on said first three dimensional coordinate; (f) storing said first structural health parameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for determining structural health of a building comprising:
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(a) measuring a plurality of cardinal points fixed to said building from a plurality of locations, wherein at least one retroreflector is attached to each of said cardinal points, a plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments are mounted in a stable reference coordinate system, and a central processor coordinates said plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments; (b) measuring at least;
a first range from a first electronic distance measurement instrument to a first cardinal point, a second range from a second electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, and a third range from a third electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, whereinsaid first electronic distance measurement instrument is at a first location, said second electronic distance measurement instrument is at a second location, said third electronic distance measurement instrument is at a third location, and wherein said first location, said second location, and said third location are three different locations; (c) storing at least said first, second, and third ranges; (d) computing a first three dimensional coordinate of said first cardinal point, in said stable reference coordinate system, based at least in part on said first, second, and third ranges; (e) determining at least a first structural health parameter of said building based at least in part on said first three dimensional coordinate; (f) storing said first structural health parameter.
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19. A method for determining structural health of a crane comprising:
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(a) measuring a plurality of cardinal points fixed to said crane from a plurality of locations, wherein at least one retroreflector is attached to each of said cardinal points, a plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments are mounted in a stable reference coordinate system, and a central processor coordinates said plurality of electronic distance measurement instruments; (b) measuring at least;
a first range from a first electronic distance measurement instrument to a first cardinal point, a second range from a second electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, and a third range from a third electronic distance measurement instrument to said first cardinal point, whereinsaid first electronic distance measurement instrument is at a first location, said second electronic distance measurement instrument is at a second location, said third electronic distance measurement instrument is at a third location, and wherein said first location, said second location, and said third location are three different locations; (c) storing at least said first, second, and third ranges; (d) computing a first three dimensional coordinate of said first cardinal point, in said stable reference coordinate system, based at least in part on said first, second, and third ranges; (e) determining at least a first structural health parameter of said crane based at least in part on said first three dimensional coordinate; (f) storing said first structural health parameter.
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Specification