IT201900015887A1 - ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO CONTINUALLY DETECT STRUCTURAL DATA RELATING TO ACCELERATIONS AND PUNCTUAL DEFORMATIONS IN A BUILDING / CIVIL MANUFACTURE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

of the patent for industrial invention entitled:

"ELECTRONIC SYSTEM TO CONTINUALLY DETECT STRUCTURAL DATA RELATING TO ACCELERATIONS AND PUNCTUAL DEFORMATIONS IN A BUILDING / CIVIL MANUFACTURE"

The present invention relates to an electronic system for continuously detecting structural data relating to point accelerations and deformations in a building / civil artifact.

In particular, the present invention relates to the use of a plurality of detection devices which cooperate in order to carry out continuously, i.e. without interruption, a continuous detection of acceleration and deformation data in predetermined monitoring points of a building / civil, and are able to carry out an analysis of the data collected, and the remote transmission of the data themselves so as to provide them to a remote system.

As is known, the problem of the integrity and safety of building structures such as, in particular, works of art, buildings, buildings, artifacts such as - for example - bridges and viaducts, is currently addressed through monitoring based on periodic inspections, with frequency annual or multi-year. These inspections are carried out both with a visual assessment of the state of the materials of the structures, and with measurements of the local characteristics of the materials through investigations conducted by means of coverometers, penetrometers, ultrasound analyzes or electromagnetic waves.

Other types of inspections provide for a detection of the elastic behavior of the product by carrying out operational modal analyzes (AOM). These inspections involve analyzing the oscillatory modes and the amplitude and phase relationships between them and in any case require the on-site intervention of an operator. The operator determines, through visual observation and the use of tools, the general state of the product by comparing the elastic characteristics detected with what is expected based on the project data, where available, or with similar measurements made previously.

The monitoring carried out through the surveys described above are therefore affected by criticalities due to a discontinuity of the surveys as they are carried out periodically by operators.

Therefore, in general, in order to be able to carry out a "continuous" type monitoring based on an uninterrupted measurement of the state of the artifacts, it is necessary to exclude, for reasons of economy and practicality, those survey methods that require the intervention of the operator.

Consequently, only those automatic systems that are able to autonomously detect the measurement of physical quantities that, when properly processed, are able to highlight significant variations in the elastic behavior of the product, remain applicable.

For this purpose, systems have been devised that collect structural data, generated by sensors installed on the building and send them to a server that has the task of analyzing the structural data in order to identify significant variations in the elastic behavior of the building observed. and to make the summary data accessible for consultation by interested parties.

These systems require the use of a server, available and accessible 24 hours a day, which is able to withstand the volume of traffic and the processing load of all the objects being monitored.

These systems have the drawback that the increase in the number of systems installed affects both the cost of data traffic and the workload of the server and therefore require progressive adaptations of the processing platforms to the current workload.

Other systems are also known which, after having collected the structural data provided by the sensors installed on the building, process the data locally and extract the summary data that are sent to a server which has the task of analyzing the trend in such a way. to identify any significant changes in the elastic behavior of the observed artefact. The server also makes the summary data accessible for consultation by interested parties.

Although these systems, on the one hand, reduce the volume of data traffic and the processing load required from the server, on the other, they still require the availability of a server that allows the consultation of summary data relating to the systems of interest.

The object of the present invention is to provide a system which overcomes the drawbacks described above.

This object is achieved by the present invention as it relates to a system for continuously detecting structural data relating to point accelerations and deformations in a structure, processing the data locally and making the summary data available for consultation via the internet, as defined in the corresponding attached claims.

The present invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a non-limiting example of embodiment, in which:

- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a system for continuously detecting structural data relating to point accelerations and deformations in an artifact, made according to the present invention,

- Figure 2 is a block diagram of a system control module shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a system measurement module shown in Figure 1.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached Figures to allow a skilled person to make and use it. Various modifications to the embodiments described will be immediately evident to those skilled in the art and the generic principles described can be applied to other embodiments and applications without thereby departing from the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims. Therefore, the present invention should not be considered limited to the embodiments described and illustrated, but should be accorded the broadest scope of protection in accordance with the principles and features described and claimed herein.

The principle underlying the present invention is essentially that of providing highly autonomous systems, that is, capable of both processing the data locally and making the syntheses obtained accessible via the web. With reference to Figure 1, the number 1 schematically indicates as a whole a system for continuously detecting structural data relating to point accelerations and deformations in an artifact (not shown).

It should be pointed out that the term "product" means any structure having a building and / or civil application, made of concrete and / or metal, and / or reinforced concrete or similar. The manufactured article can therefore comprise, for example: a bridge or component parts thereof such as beams, columns, joints; a tunnel or component parts thereof; a building or component parts thereof; a support element such as poles, support pylons for power lines, etc….

The system 100 comprises a data line 150 preferably for accessing a public computer system / network, for example an Internet system / network (not shown), a power line 170 suitable for supplying / feeding electrical energy to the system 100 (power / voltage / current), a control module 110 which is connected to the data line 150 to exchange data with it, and to the power line 170 to be electrically powered therefrom.

The system 100 also comprises a local mass memory 140, a synchronism source 160, a plurality of measurement modules 130, and a communication bus 120 which connects the measurement modules 130 and has two terminals, indicated hereinafter with terminations A and with B, connected to the control module 110. The control module 110 is suitable for accessing both terminations A and B.

Each measurement module 130 is able to be associated / coupled in a stable but removable manner on a surface portion of the article to be monitored and comprises an accelerometric sensor 133 and a strain gauge sensor 134 (Figure 3).

The control module 110 is configured in such a way as to generate and supply, through the termination A, to the measurement modules 130 connected to the communication bus 120, a first interrogation signal to identify their presence and position along the control bus. communication 120 itself.

Each measurement module 130 is configured in such a way as to receive the first interrogation signal and to provide, in response to the latter, an identification signal containing its identity and an indication of its position / sequential order along bus 120 with respect to the other measurement modules 130.

Each measurement module 130 is also able to provide the first interrogation signal received, to the immediately subsequent measurement module 130 to ensure that the latter in turn provides the identification signal on bus 120.

The communication bus 120 then connects measurement modules 130 in series one after the other, in such a way that the first interrogation signal supplied by the control module 110 on the termination A is received sequentially by the measurement modules 130 one after the other. the other according to their order / position along the bus 120. The sequential order of the measurement modules 130 can be increasing starting from the first measurement module 130 directly connected to the termination A and ending in the last measurement module 130 connected to the control module terminal B 110.

The control module 110 is configured to receive from the communication bus 120 through the termination B, an identification signal containing the identification messages generated by the measurement modules 130.

The control module 110 is configured to determine / recognize on the basis of the identification messages contained in the response signal the measurement modules 130 connected along the communication bus 120 and their sequential order along the communication bus 120 itself.

The control module 110 is also configured in such a way as to selectively send to each measurement module 130 a second interrogation signal along said bus 120.

The measurement modules 130 are configured in such a way as to supply to bus 120, in response to the second interrogation signal, a correction signal containing the required calibration parameters / data.

Preferably, each measurement module 130 is configured in such a way as to supply the immediately following measurement module 130 with the second interrogation signal received at the input.

Preferably, each measurement module 130 is configured in such a way as to add the related calibration parameters / data required in response to the second interrogation signal, and to supply the correction signal itself to the immediately following measurement module 130 along the bus 120.

The control module 110 is configured in such a way as to receive through the termination B the correction signal containing the parameters / calibration data of the measurement modules 130.

The control module 110 is adapted to send to the measurement modules 130 at spaced intervals of a period T, a third interrogation signal, which requests the measurement modules 130 themselves to send in response to the control module 110 a measurement signal containing the amplitude of the measurement samples collected during the immediately preceding period T, transformed into digital form in the form of measurement data.

Each measurement module 130 is configured in such a way as to respond to the third interrogation signal by sending the measurement signal containing its own measurement data on the communication bus 120 towards the subsequent measurement module 130, ie downstream. The measurement module 130 also subsequently sends the third interrogation signal to the subsequent measurement module 130.

The control module 110 is configured in such a way as to receive the measurement signal through the termination B, so as to obtain complete knowledge of the samples of the acceleration and deformation measurements carried out in the previous period T by the measurement modules 130 present in the system 100.

The control module 110 is also configured to correct the measurement data contained in the measurement signal, based on the parameters / calibration data, and stores the corrected measurement data in the mass memory 140. The control module 110 is also configured to make this information, ie the correct measurement data present in the mass memory 140, available for subsequent processing.

Preferably, the control module 110 is further configured in such a way as to generate the third interrogation signal at predetermined time intervals T on the basis of a clock signal. The clock signal can be supplied by the synchronism source 160. The clock signal supplied by the synchronism source 160 can in turn be synchronized with one or more clock signals supplied by the synchronism source 160 of other systems 100.

The control module 110 is also configured in such a way as to process the acceleration and deformation samples / data stored in the mass memory 140, to carry out structural diagnoses of the product. For example, the control module 110 can process the acceleration and deformation samples / data stored in the mass memory 140 to determine synthesis data of interest and / or diagrams and / or printouts. The result of the processing carried out by the control module 110, for example summaries of interest and / or diagrams and / or printouts, are conveniently accessible to remote electronic devices, via the web, for example via the data network 150.

The control module 110 is configured in such a way as to perform the function of web server in such a way as to make data / information accessible via the internet through the data line 150. It is understood that the control module 110 is equipped with ports / modules / communication interfaces for connecting to the web server. It is therefore understood that the control module 110 is adapted to make available for consultation the diagrams and printouts obtained from the synthesis data of the processing carried out on the sequences of acceleration and deformation samples contained in the measurement data provided by the measurement modules 130.

With reference to the block diagram shown in Figure 2, the control module 110 can comprise: an electronic module 111, a power supply 112 capable of using an external supply voltage to recharge an internal battery 113 with back-up functions, a modem router 114 capable of connecting to the Internet network 150, an exchange module 115 capable of routing according to the commands of the aforementioned electronic module 111. The exchange module 115 is to receive a data flow 116 coming from an external source and a data flow 117 coming from the same module 111 towards the communication bus 120.

According to an embodiment, the battery-charging power supply module 112 may be able to use an external energy source 170 consisting of the voltage supplied by a solar panel (not shown).

With reference to Figure 2, a possible operation of the control module will be described below.

The electronic module 111 provides the first and second interrogation signals to the measurement modules 130 so as to receive from them the identification signal and the calibration signal.

The electronic module 111 controls the exchange module 115 so as to route the data flow 117 coming from the module 111 itself towards the termination A of the communication bus 120.

The electronic module 111 supplies the third interrogation signals to the measurement modules 130 so as to receive from them the measurement signal which contains the measurement data / samples detected by the acceleration sensors 133 and the strain gauges 134 of the measurement modules 130. The electronic module 111 controls the exchange module 115 so as to route the data flow 117 coming from the module 111 itself to the termination A of the communication bus 120 if there are no requirements for synchronization of the data collected with those relating to other federated systems.

Otherwise the electronic module 111 controls the exchange module 115 so as to route the data flow 116 coming from the external source 160 towards the termination A of the communication bus 120.

The electronic module 111, once received the data relating to the identities and the data / calibration parameters of the measurement modules 130, through the termination B of the communication bus 120, stores them in the mass memory 140 so as to make them available for the subsequent processing steps.

The electronic module 111, once it receives the data relating to the amplitude of the samples detected by the measurement modules 130 through the termination B of the communication bus 120, corrects them according to the calibration parameters and stores them in the mass memory 140 in a manner to be made available for subsequent processing phases.

The electronic module 111 periodically processes the data stored in the mass memory 140 to obtain a summary in the form of tables and diagrams which it stores in the same mass memory 140 in order to make them accessible via the web by the interested parties.

The electronic module 111 will activate its web server function which will be made accessible through the modem router 114 and the access line 150 for interested parties, publishing the relative address and thus allowing the consultation of the summary data both as direct access to web pages for publishing the data, both as access to the same web pages through an external web server that sees the local web server as a data provider ("consultation" function).

The electronic module 111 analyzes the stored data, verifying whether by examining the summary values both as a range and as a temporal trend, it is possible to identify situations that indicate a possible degradation of the elastic characteristics of the product being measured; in this case the same electronic module establishes a temporary connection through the internet with one or more recipient addresses by sending warning messages about the situation encountered ("push notices" function).

To allow the operation of the system functions even in the temporary absence of mains power supply, the module 112 keeps the battery module 113 in charge using the external energy source 170 since the battery voltage supplied by the battery module 113 is made available to the whole system 100.

Figure 3 illustrates a block diagram of the measurement module 130, which comprises: an electronic module 131, a non-volatile memory 132 in which the calibration parameters of the sensors, an accelerometric sensor 133 and a strain gauge sensor 134, two line interfaces 135 and 136 that allow communication of the measurement module 130 with the communication bus 120.

With reference to Figure 3, the operation of the measurement module 130 is now described as follows.

The electronic module 131 receives, through the line interfaces 135 and 136, the interrogation messages coming from the control module 110 of the system and through the same interfaces sends the response messages containing the requested information.

The electronic module 131 periodically interrogates the accelerometric 133 and strain gauge 134 sensors, collecting from them the values of the samples measured according to the respective sampling intervals.

The electronic module 131 stores the read values and keeps them available until, by means of specific interrogation messages transmitted at intervals T, their transfer to the control module 110 of the system 100 is not requested.

When requested, the electronic module 131 sends the response messages to the control module 110 containing all the accelerometric and strain gauge samples accumulated since the last interrogation instant.

The advantages of the invention are evident from what is described above. The system is particularly advantageous both in terms of performance, since each product is equipped with a dedicated processing module, and in terms of cost, since the price of processing modules is constantly decreasing and compensated by the significant reduction in data transmission costs. Furthermore, especially in the case of complex monitoring systems consisting of multiple federated systems, there is no "single point failure" that could compromise the functionality of the entire system, thanks to the functional autonomy of the individuals.

Finally, it is clear that modifications and variations can be made to the system described and illustrated above without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the attached claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS 1. Electronic system (100) for continuously detecting structural data relating to accelerations and point deformations measured in a building / civil building, said electronic system being characterized by the fact that it comprises: a control module (110) equipped with two terminals (A) (B), a communication bus (120) connected to said terminals (A) and (B) of said control module (110), a plurality of measurement modules (130), each of which is able to be arranged on a surface portion of said product and is provided with an acceleration sensor (133) and a strain gauge sensor (134), said measurement modules (130) being arranged in series along said communication bus (120) and being configured to provide structural data indicative of acceleration and deformation sampled through the relative acceleration sensors (133) and strain gauges (134), said measurement modules (130) being able to communicate said structural data to said control module (110) in a serial and sequential manner through said communication bus (120) in response to an interrogation signal. System according to claim 1, wherein: said control module (110) is configured in such a way as to generate and supply, through a terminal (A), to the measurement modules (130) a first interrogation signal to identify their presence and position along the communication bus (120) himself, each said measurement module (130) is configured in such a way as to receive said first interrogation signal and to provide, in response to the latter, to the communication bus (120) an identification signal containing its own identity and an indication on its own position / sequential order along the bus (120) with respect to the other measuring modules (130), said control module (110) being configured to receive from the communication bus (120) through the other terminal (B) an identification signal containing the identification messages generated by said measurement modules (130). System according to claims 1 or 2, wherein: said control module (110) is further configured in such a way as to selectively send through a terminal (A) to each measuring module (130) a second interrogation signal along said bus (120), said measurement modules (130) are configured in such a way as to supply to the bus (120), in response to the reception of the second interrogation signal, a correction signal containing the required calibration parameters / data, each measurement module (130) is configured in such a way as to: supply the second interrogation signal received at the input to the immediately following measurement module (130), add in the correction signal the related parameters / calibration data requested in response to the second interrogation signal received, and provide the correction signal itself to the immediately following measuring module (130), the control module (110) is configured in such a way as to receive through the other terminal (B), the correction signal containing the parameters / calibration data of the measurement modules 130. System according to any one of the preceding claims in which: said control module (110) is able to send to the measurement modules (130) at predetermined intervals (T), a third interrogation signal through said terminal (A), said measurement module (130) is configured in such a way as to respond to the third interrogation signal by sending on the communication bus (120) a measurement signal containing its own measurement data, and said third interrogation signal, said control module (110) is configured in such a way as to receive said measurement signal through the other terminal (B). System according to claim 4, wherein said control module (110) is further configured to correct the measurement data contained in the measurement signal, based on the calibration parameters / data, and stores the corrected measurement data in a mass memory (140). 6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said control module 110 is further configured in such a way as to process the acceleration and deformation samples / data stored in the mass memory 140, to carry out structural diagnoses of the product. System according to any one of the preceding claims in which said control module 110 is further configured in such a way as to process the samples / acceleration and deformation data stored in the mass memory (140) to determine synthesis data of interest and / or diagrams and / or printouts and implement a web server function to make such data / information conveniently accessible to remote electronic devices, via a data network (150). System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said control module (110) comprises a) an electronic module (111), b) a battery charger power supply (112), c) a battery (113), d) a modem router (114), e) an exchange module (115), being the control module (111) connected directly to an external mass memory (140), being the modem router (114) connected to an external access data line to the internet (150) and the exchange module (115) being able to connect according to the command received from the aforementioned electronic module (111) to the communication bus (120) the data flow (116) coming from the external source (160) or the data flow (117) coming from the aforementioned control module (111) and the battery charger module (112) being able to keep the battery (113) charged by using the external source (170). System according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said measurement module (130) consists of: a) an electronic module (131), b) a non-volatile memory (132), c) an accelerometric sensor (133) , d) a strain gauge sensor (134), e) a first line interface (135), f) a second line interface (136), the two line interface modules (135) and (136) being connected respectively to the two terminations of the communication bus (120) to which the measurement module (130) is connected and the aforementioned electronic module (131) being directly connected to the non-volatile memory (132) and to the accelerometric (133), strain gauge (134) sensors and to the two line interfaces (135) and (136). System according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a synchronization source (160) adapted to generate a clock signal in common with other systems (100); said control module (110) is able to send said third interrogation signal to the measurement modules (130) at predetermined intervals (T) which depend on said clock signal.