SLOPE MODE AND ENERGY-TRANSFER FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION

CONVENTIONAL STRUCTURAL EVALUATION METHODS OFTEN FAIL TO PROVIDE ACCURATE DEFECT MEASUREMENT OF LARGE CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES. INNOVATIVE SLOPE MODE AND MODAL ENERGY TRANSFER SENSORS AND MEASURING SYSTEMS THAT WOULD MAKE STRUCTURAL EVALUATION MORE FEASIBLE AND ACCURATE ARE BEING DEVELOPED. THE ATTEMPT IS TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF SLOPE ACCELEROMETERS (NOT YET AVAILABLE COMMERCIALLY) BASED ON A NEWLY DEVELOPED COMPLEX ENERGY THEORY. THE OBJECT IS TO DEVELOP THE ACCELEROMETERS AND CALIBRATION SYSTEMS, TO EXAMINE METHODS FOR MODAL ENERGY MEASUREMENTS, AND TO PERFORM THE VIBRATION SIGNATURE ANALYSIS FOR MEDIUM SIZE STRUCTURES. THE METHODOLOGY AND TRANSDUCERS MAY HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR STRUCTURAL MEASUREMENTS AND FOR APPLICATIONS INVOLVING INSPECTION OR TESTING OF BRIDGES AND LARGE CIVIL ENGINEERING STRUCTURES.