Quick links:

	Team Project Activities
	Tasks and Proposed Deliverables

Task 1: Kickoff meeting and Formation of TAC Task 2: State DOT survey Task 3: Build transducers Task 4: Development and field testing         Task 5: Laboratory Scour Detection         Task 6: Designdevelopment of embedded         Task 7: Fluid interaction and corrosion         Task 8: Signal processing         Task 9: Develop decision support         Task 10: Field testing of wireless         Tasks 11-13: Reporting Publications

Team Project Activities

1. Formation of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and Kick-off team meeting – modify the research program if necessary; 

2. State DOT survey to seek additional input – send scour needs and utilization survey to state DOTs; 

3. Build additional transducers: 

    (a) Roll and Texture FeGa sheet; 

    (b) Integrate rolled-sheet whisker elements and GMR sensors to make flow sensors; 

    (c) Sensor calibrating and laboratory flow test; 

4. Development of smart scour-sensing posts with wired interface: 

    (a) Develop flanges for protection of sensors during driving of posts; 

    (b) Test sensor survivability using wired instrumentation; 

    (c) Short field validation using wired interface; 

5. Laboratory scour detection studies: 

    (a) Construct specimen; 

    (b) Study varying conditions in controlled environment: 

    I- Water depth - 5 levels 

    II- Water velocity - 5 levels 

    III- Sediment - silt versus sand 

    IV- Sediment size study 

    V- Scale riverbank monitoring study

6. Design/development of embedded sensor interface: 

    (a) Hardware development for wireless smart scour-sensing posts/base station; 

    (b) Firmware development for wireless smart scour-sensing posts/base station; 

    (c) Add channels for pier monitoring unit; 

7. Fluid interaction and corrosion protection studies; 

    (a) Conduct coating experiments to characterize effectiveness of alternative approaches (chrome electroplating and polymer coating); 

    (b) Characterize corrosion properties of coated whiskers via accelerated test; 

    (c) Test Iron-Aluminum whisker as suitable replacement for Iron-Gallium; 

    (d) Modify whisker shape to enhance fluid interaction properties; 

8. Signal processing and classification: 

    I- Identify airborne sensor signals 

    II- Identify waterborne sensor signals 

    III- Identify buried sensor signals 

    IV- Identify sensor fault signal signals 

9. Develop decision support visualization and query client; 

10. Field testing of wireless scour-sensing posts; 

    (a) Installation of system; 

    (b) Field operation; 

    (c) Validation against established scour measurement method; 

    (d) Integration with decision support engine; 

11. Final team meeting; 

12. Write and submit quarterly and final reports. 

13. Publish papers and make presentations.

Tasks and Proposed Deliverables

   

Task 1: Kickoff meeting and Formation of Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

See summary for Tasks 11-13 (below) for description.

 

Task 2: State DOT survey

Output(s):

            •         Improved understanding of bridge owner costs associated with scour.

            •         Improved understanding of system requirements.

            •         Acceptable installation practices for the scour sensors.

 

Deliverable 2A - Report: Summary of DOT Survey Results.

 

Task 3: Build transducers

Output(s):

            •         300 Magnetostrictive flow sensors.

 

Task 4: Development and field testing of scour-sensing posts with wired interface

Output(s):

            •         Demonstration of successful installation of the scour-sensing posts with survival of the whiskers.

            •         Whisker protection flange design improvements.

            •         Manually collected field data.

Deliverable 4A - Report: Driven Post Sensor Survivability

 

Task 5: Laboratory Scour Detection Studies

Output(s):

            •         Proof-of-concept in a controlled environment.

            •         Understanding of the role flow and scour rates play in the ability of the scour detection arrays to detect scour.

            •         A library of candidate signals to be used for classification (static versus dynamic sensors) in the signal processing activities of Task 8.

            •         Controlled environ. to validate/debug embedded data interrogation system (Task 6) and interface with decision support engine of Task 9.

            •         Small-scale validation of river bank monitoring using the smart scour sensing posts.

Deliverable 5A - Report: Results of Laboratory Study. 

 

Task 6: Design/development of embedded sensor interface

Output(s):

            •         Embedded data collection and interrogation hardware and software for smart scour-sensing posts including wireless interface.

            •         Base station for communication between smart scour-sensing posts and remote decision support viewing client (for Task 9).

            •         Embedded data collection and interrogation hardware and software for bridge pier monitoring with enhanced channel count and integrated base station.

Deliverable 6A - Report: Scour Monitoring System – Embedded System Design.

 

Task 7: Fluid interaction and corrosion protection studies

Output(s):

            •         Improved corrosion properties for the Galfenol whiskers.

            •         Improved fluid interaction for the Galfenol whickers in low flows.

Deliverable 7A - Report: Scour Sensor Design – Corrosion Protection and Fluid Interaction.

 

Task 8: Signal processing and classification

Output(s):

            •         Classification algorithms for dynamic and static signals.

            •         Sensor fault detection algorithms.

Deliverable 8A - Report: Signal Processing for Scour Detection.

 

Task 9: Develop decision support visualization and query client

Output(s):

            •         Decision support engine updated to present scour information to bridge owners.

Deliverable 9A - Report: Decision Support Engine for Scour Detection.

Deliverable 9B - Demonstration of Decision Support Engine.

 

Task 10: Field testing of wireless scour-sensing system

Output(s):

            •         Successful demonstration of multi-month operation of bridge abutment monitoring using the smart scour-sensing post system.

            •         Successful demonstration of multi-month operation of culvert monitoring using the smart scour-sensing post system.

            •         Successful demonstration of multi-month operation of pier monitoring.

            •         Successful demonstration of multi-month operation of riverbed migration monitoring.

Deliverable 10A - Report: Field Validation of Magnetostrictive Scour Monitoring System.

Deliverable 10B - Demonstration of Field Installed System.

 

Tasks 11-13: Reporting, Publications and TAC Meetings

Output(s):

•        Project website, created and maintained for the entire duration of the project.

•        At least two meetings with the Technical Advisory Committee, including reporting on TAC recommendations and feedback.

•        Two or more WebEx-style interim meetings between annual TAC meetings to keep TAC up-to-date.

•        Two or more WebEx-style meetings near the end of the project with Michigan and Maryland state DOT officials to coordinate field tests and solicit feedback.

•        Outreach efforts such as TRB presentations.

•        Regular and clear reporting to the sponsor and stakeholder community.

 

Deliverable 12A - Quarterly progress reports, quarters 1-8 inclusive.

Deliverable 12B - Final Report.