Instrumentation And Monitoring For G-Beam/Stillwater Avenue Bridge Replacement
In the proposed project, the research team plans to deploy an extensive instrumentation and communication system that will be embedded in the G-Beam girders proposed for the Stillwater Avenue bridge in Orono/Old Town. Some of the details of the specific monitoring plan will need to be deferred to coincide with girder design. The study will include the following. First, an array of fiber optic cabling will be installed along the longitudinal beam axis at different locations relative to the neutral axis. Each cable will include discrete sensors at different locations along the beam axis to capture strain at those points. Second, an array of accelerometers will be located it key locations in order to capture frequencies and modes of vibration during service. Both the accelerometers and the fiber optic system will be connected to a communications network that both collects data from the sensor array and broadcasts the data over a wireless network to a server at University of Maine (UMaine). Depending on collection rates, the data will either be transmitted over a conventional 5G cellular network, or more likely via a closed network that sends the data through a series of discrete repeaters in between the bridge site and the server. Third, the team proposes a system of digital cameras that will be used both to trigger the acquisition and transmission system, but also through machine vision, be able to identify the vehicle type (e.g. number of axles.) Once triggered, the array of strain gages and accelerometers, will preprocess data and send to the UMaine server. In this way, resulting strain and vibration data can be tied to load types. Fourth, a weather station will monitor current temperature, sunlight, and relative humidity data to complement the acquired structural data. Depending on design issues, additional on-site sensors can monitor water level, ice status, and other environmental conditions that may be relevant. Finally, we will conduct diagnostic live load tests on the completed structure immediately before it is opened to traffic and approximately one year after its completion
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Supplemental Notes:
- • MaineDOT Share – $100,000 (SPR Funds) • UMaine Share - $55,000
Language
- English
Project
- Status: Active
- Funding: $155,000.00
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Sponsor Organizations:
Maine Department of Transportation
16 Statehouse Station
Augusta, ME United States 04333-0016 Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
5717 Corbett Hall
Orono, ME United States 04469-5711 -
Project Managers:
Pulver, Jeffrey
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Performing Organizations:
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
5717 Corbett Hall
Orono, ME United States 04469-5711 -
Principal Investigators:
Davids, William
Landis, Eric N.
- Start Date: 20250707
- Expected Completion Date: 20261231
- Actual Completion Date: 0
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Accelerometers; Bridge management systems; Data communications; Fiber optics; Girders; Instrumentation; Sensors; Vibration; Wireless communication systems
- Geographic Terms: Orono (Maine)
- Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Data and Information Technology; Design; Highways;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01962404
- Record Type: Research project
- Source Agency: Maine Department of Transportation
- Files: RIP, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Jul 31 2025 2:23PM