Measuring strains during construction of a steel building using a wireless sensor network
Date
2016
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Nationwide, there is a well-known need for sustainable structural engineering practices in order to reduce the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and constructing steel members. While the reuse of structural steel would significantly decrease the environmental impacts associated with civil construction, this practice is rare. Uncertainties regarding the structural integrity of reused steel members are the cause of such minimal steel reuse implementation. To address these concerns, the full strain history of a steel member from its arrival at the construction site through significant portions of its service life is recorded. In this thesis, a full test, analysis, and review is conducted on the components of a wireless sensing network used for wirelessly instrumenting an addition to Purnell Hall on the University of Delaware campus. The use of a wireless sensing network and a wireless instrumentation plan is motivated by the basis that the greatest concerns regarding future structural integrity in a reuse application are during construction and in the vicinity of connections.