Project Summary

The primary objective of the proposed engineering project is to monitor a large movement expansion joint of a multi-span highway bridge using the developed real-time wireless sensor system from the previous project. This project will upgrade the current wireless joint monitoring system such that it can measure larger displacement in multiple locations to study the complex behavior of the expansion joints with multiple spans and skewness involved. The monitoring without the need for an inspection crew will reduce costs and inconvenience to the traveling
public. Analysis of the data transmitted to the processing location will alert bridge engineers to potential problems well in advance, allowing preventive measures to be taken and expensive repair situations avoided and the safety and longevity of the bridge to be increased. The project consists of the following tasks: Task 1- Developing the upgraded sensor system for large movement joints; Task 2 – Field testing and data collection; Task 3 – Analysis of field data and assessment of the system.