USES of novel Ultrasonic and Seismic Embedded Sensors for the non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring of critical infrastructure and human-built objects

Project Information

USES2

Grant agreement ID: 101072599

DOI

10.3030/101072599

EC signature date 6 July 2022

Start date 1 March 2023

End date 31 August 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 657 779,20

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITE GUSTAVE EIFFEL
France

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - USES2 (USES of novel Ultrasonic and Seismic Embedded Sensors for the non-destructive evaluation and structural health monitoring of critical infrastructure and human-built objects)

Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2025-02-28

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Detecting degradation that endangers the safety and impairs availability of infrastructure and components is currently the task of schedule-driven Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE), this process is however costly and disruptive. The attractive alternative is to use condition based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Current SHM typically uses sensors that provide local information only, which may be insufficient for detecting interior degradation or require very dense networks. Furthermore, the performance of both in-situ sensing systems and algorithms to process and interpret the sensor data is reduced when subject to Environmental and Operational Conditions (EOC). This limits their large-scale deployment.

USES2 develops and combines novel emerging sensing technologies (optical fibre and wireless piezoelectric sensors), advanced processing (compressed sensing, artificial intelligence) and full-mechanical-waveform based imaging to tackle these issues. Key to this cross-disciplinary work is a new generation of researchers with skills across sensing and signal processing. They will be trained with a unique combination of “hands-on” multidisciplinary research demonstrators, industrial placements, and courses /workshops on scientific and transferable skills. All of which is facilitated by the broad intersectoral composition of the consortium.

USES2 produces world-class researchers expert in innovative sensing solutions, advanced mechanical wave processing and robust EOC compensation methods. Their skills will be embodied in a series of laboratory demonstrators and in-situ industrially relevant experiments spanning three key sectors of European industry: energy [power plants (nuclear, wind), hydrogen storage, pipeline networks for fuel exploration and transport], mobility for citizens (aerospace industry, automotive industry) and construction (urban subsurface soil, infrastructures).

For more information: https://www.uses2.eu/

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Innovative Sensor Technologies
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Significant progress has been made toward developing novel sensor technologies designed to optimize the performance, connectivity, and energy efficiency of embedded systems used for mechanical wave sensing. Key activities include: The design of customized filters using Photonic Integrated Circuits for improved wave detection. The development of an Optical Time Stretch (OTS) measurement system, enhancing high-speed sensing capabilities. The modeling of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), contributing to self-powered sensor systems. The wireless characterization of embedded sensors, offering potential for low-energy, low-maintenance monitoring solutions.


Advanced Imaging Using Mechanical Waves
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Advanced imaging methods have been developed to detect and visualize previously undetectable damage. This includes: The implementation of a Full Waveform Imaging (FWI) setup using open-source tools, now applied to concrete structures. The validation of a passive seismic imaging workflow for subsurface monitoring with optical fiber, accommodating environmental noise and variability. Identification and refinement of critical measurement parameters within nonlinear acoustics experimental setups, allowing improved understanding. These contributions have produced reproducible and clearly documented setups, which were previously unavailable in the field.


Smart and Robust Structures and Materials
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Work has focused on enhancing the robustness and reliability of SHM systems for diverse real-world conditions and materials. Key advances include: The development of a temperature compensation technique derived from MWCS, tested on concrete specimens and currently being validated in operational tunnel environments. Experimental exploration of Environmental and Operational Condition (EOC) effects on guided wave propagation, supporting improved compensation algorithms for aeronautics applications. The creation of quality assessment methods for SHM data across multiple sensor types (fiber optic and inductive), increasing the trustworthiness of monitoring results.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Innovative Sensor Technologies
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The results obtained so far are at the cutting edge of the state of the art. The upcoming research steps are expected to deliver advancements that will further push the boundaries in the development of embedded guided wave sensor technologies.

Advanced Imaging Using Mechanical Waves
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Results that go beyond the current state of the art include delivering reproducible, well-documented, and understandable experimental setups for mechanical wave-based imaging and data processing. Such clarity and repeatability were previously lacking in the respective application domains.

Smart and Robust Structures and Materials
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New methods have been developed for compensating environmental effects in SHM, including an approach derived from the Moving Window Cross-Spectrum (MWCS) technique for phase compensation. In parallel, the experimental investigation of environmental and operational condition (EOC) effects has led to a clearer distinction between direct (mechanical/thermal) and indirect (acoustoelastic/thermal) influences, enabling the refinement of compensation algorithms for aerospace structures.

USES2 project image generated by chatGPT may 2025