Researchers are working on a technology for 24/7 detection of bridge scour. The system leverages advances in sensor technologies to provide cost-effective early detection of bridge scour and the means to avoid bridge failure and associated costs. The scour sensing technology uses magnetostrictive flow sensors that are buried in the soil around bridge foundations. As scour develops and the soil begins to erode, the sensors are activated and able to detect water flow and automatically alert the bridge owner that remediation is needed. The macroscale and nanoscale magnetostrictive fluidic sensors investigated with prior NSF support are the basis for the advanced flow sensors system that is being used to provide robust and continuous detection of bridge scour.
Scour monitoring is a federally mandated part of regular bridge inspections but often bridge owners do not have sufficient manpower to inspect their entire bridge inventories more than once every year or two. Scour can thus go undetected for long periods of time and develop into very costly and even life threatening problems. The candidate scour detection system could both improve public safety and save costs to the owners of bridges. This is because the early scour detection can significantly reduce repair costs, which in cases of advanced scour, can involve the cost of a complete bridge replacement. A bridge experiencing or at risk of even moderate scour may be closed resulting in a significant economic impact on the surrounding communities. Often the solution to moderate to severe scour is replacement of an otherwise sound bridge at a significant cost. Early scour can be repaired at a cost of a few thousand dollars but late stage scour can cost a few hundred thousand to repair or millions if the bridge needs to be replaced.
Normal 0 false false false EN-US KO X-NONE Faculty and student researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) are working on a technology for 24/7 detection of bridge scour, and possible transition of the technology to a commercial product and/or a structural health monitoring service. Scour is a leading cause of failure for bridges in the US, where nearly 60% of bridge failures are caused by hydraulic forces and nearly 24% of our nation’s ~610,000 registered bridges are deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Scour occurs when moving water washes away sediment from around bridge foundations thus compromising the integrity of the structure. Of the 610,000 national bridges in the US, 504,000 are at risk of scour and 23,000 are currently listed as scour critical. The UMD system leverages advances in sensor technologies made possible, in part, with fundamental studies supported by the NSF, to provide cost-effective early detection of bridge scour and the means to avoid bridge failure and associated costs. The scour sensing technology uses magnetostrictive flow sensors that are buried in the soil around bridge foundations. As scour develops and the soil begins to erode, the sensors are activated and able to detect water flow and automatically alert the bridge owner that remediation is needed. The macroscale and nanoscale magnetostrictive fluidic sensors investigated with prior NSF support are the basis for the advanced flow sensors system that is being used to provide robust and continuous detection of bridge scour. The intellectual merit of the supported activities lies in use of the training that was provided to determine that while not yet ready for market, this technology appears to be viable for transition to a commercial enterprise. Assessment of options for business models that would make this a viable product suggest that it be offered as a 24/7 service to bridge owners, so that they do not need to monitor the sensors themselves, but rather rely on the sensor company to monitor the sensors and report to the bridge owners warnings when the sensors detect the onset of scour. An additional outcome from participation in the I-Corps training program is the fabrication of a table-top technology demonstration unit for potential customers and partners. Nothing to report Normal 0 false false false EN-US KO X-NONE
