Prompting in situ testing and monitoring of civil engineering infrastructure using special lectures and exhibitions
Lead Research Organisation:
Queen's University Belfast
Department Name: Sch Planning Architecture and Civil Eng
Abstract
The durability of building materials, such as stone and concrete, depends on their porosity and permeability; that is, if they are highly porous and permeable, gas and water can penetrate through them, which can lead to different types of deterioration of the material. Through a series of computer animations, it is intended to demonstrate the concept of packing density of materials and its influence on the penetrability characteristics and, the resulting, durability performance, such as corrosion, freeze-thaw scaling and salt-induced disintegration. These computer displays will be accompanied by physical exhibits, to illustrate the usefulness of in situ testing and monitoring the behaviour using embedded sensors. The working principle of sensors will be illustrated using these exhibits, which are intended to stimulate an interest on the physics of material behaviour in undergraduate students in Science and Engineering and an awareness amongst engineers and professionals in the construction industry on how to ensure sustainable and durable construction materials.
Organisations
- Queen's University Belfast (Lead Research Organisation)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- City, University of London (Collaboration)
- Amphora Non-Destructive Testing Ltd (Collaboration)
- Heriot-Watt University (Collaboration)
- Sengenia Ltd (Collaboration)
- Amphora NDT (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- City, University of London (Project Partner)
- University of Edinburgh (Project Partner)
- Heriot-Watt University (Project Partner)
Publications
Grattan, S.K.T.
(2008)
Monitoring steel reinforcement corrosion through the use of strain fibre optic sensors
Long, A.E.
(2007)
Sustainable concrete structures through innovative research and development
in Concrete Platform '07, Belfast
Description | This grant was to demonstrate the concept of packing density of materials and its influence on the penetrability characteristics and, the resulting, durability performance, such as corrosion, freeze-thaw scaling and salt-induced disintegration through a series of computer animations and physical exhibits. They were then used to demonstrate the usefulness of in situ testing and monitoring the behaviour using embedded sensors. The working principle of sensors were illustrated using these exhibits, which was intended to stimulate an interest on the physics of material behaviour in undergraduate students in Science and Engineering and an awareness amongst engineers and professionals in the construction industry on how to ensure sustainable and durable construction materials. Through participation in international conferences and exhibitions, around 500 professionals and students were introduced to these new technologies. |
Exploitation Route | The displays at the exhibitions in international conferences generated interests in in situ test devices and sensor systems to assess the durability of concrete structures. This enhanced the sale of these instruments/devices of two University spin-outs Amphora NDT Limited and Sengenia Limited. |
Sectors | Construction Education |
URL | http://www.qub.ac.uk/research-centres/CentreforBuiltEnvironmentResearch/People/Staff/AcademicStaff/ProfessorMBasheer |
Description | The physical displays at the exhibitions and computer animations have encouraged potential users of non-destructive test instruments and sensor systems for assessing the durability of concrete structures to buy these devices from two university spin outs, Sengenia Limited and Amphora NDT Limited. |
First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
Sector | Construction |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | Amphora Non-destructive Testing Ltd |
Organisation | Amphora Non-Destructive Testing Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | City University |
Organisation | City, University of London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Heriot-Watt University |
Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
Start Year | 2006 |
Description | Sengenia Ltd |
Organisation | Sengenia Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | University of Edinburgh |
Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
Start Year | 2006 |
Company Name | Sengenia |
Description | Sengenia is a sensing solutions company that specializes in fiber optic sensing. They offer a range of Luna Technologies products, including Hyperion Interrogators and ODiSI Interrogators. |
Year Established | 2007 |
Impact | Micron Optics, a major US based sensor and instrumentation company has licensed Sengenia Ltd to distribute their products in the UK due to profile this spin out has developed. |
Website | http://www.sengenia.com |
Description | Engagement with practising engineers |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Scientific meeting (conference/symposium etc.) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Type Of Presentation | keynote/invited speaker |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Following the activity, the spin out companies which were marketing the technology received an improvement in sales of the technologies. In addition, the technology has gone into guidance notes prepared by RILEM and ACI. Following the activity and promotion of commercial products covered by the talk, there was an improved uptake of technology internationally, for instance the Birds Nest Stadium and several key bridges in China were tested with the technologies. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
URL | http://www.amphorandt.com/ |