Development of a Self-Powered Weigh-In-Motion (WIM) System

This study further develops a roadside piezoelectric energy harvesting system. The basic sensing element is a stack of 6 piezoelectric disks, 1-inch in diameter, connected in parallel. A set of 4 of these stacks supports a metal load carrying plate installed flush with the pavement surface. These piezo stacks exhibited a linear voltage versus stress behavior that is relatively independent of loading frequency. This will allow estimating of axle loads. At the same time, these 4 piezoelectric stacks generate very high voltages (i.e., 100 Volts for a car axles and 800 Volts for a truck axle) but relatively low amperages (i.e., 10-100 mA depending on load level). The electrical power generated is sufficient to keep the rechargeable batteries on site sufficiently charged to power at 3.3 V a microprocessor with a power consumption of 0.4 μA “dormant” and 40 μA “awake” (e.g., Analog Devices ADuCM4050). This dual-role for the piezo-stacks developed represents a leap forward in weigh-in-motion (WIM) technology. It will allow the development of a low cost WIM system that can operate off the electrical grid. This will provide state agencies a much better informed picture of the utilization of their roadway and bridge infrastructure.

• Record URL:
  https://transet.lsu.edu/research-in-progress/
• Supplemental Notes:
  • 19ITSUTSA01

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Completed
• Funding: $100022
• Contract Numbers:

  69A3551747106

• Sponsor Organizations:

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)

  Louisiana State University
  Baton Rouge, LA  United States  70803
• Project Managers:

  Melson, Christopher

• Performing Organizations:

  University of Texas at Arlington

  Box 19308
  Arlington, TX  United States  76019-0308
• Principal Investigators:

  Papagiannakis, Athanassios

  Dessouky, Samer

  Ahmed, Sara

• Start Date: 20190815
• Expected Completion Date: 20210215
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Electric power generation; Highways; Piezoelectricity; Weigh in motion
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Freight Transportation; Highways;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01713584
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: Transportation Consortium of South-Central States (Tran-SET)
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747106
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Aug 8 2019 8:01AM