Wireless Senor Networks for Structural Health Monitoring

The use of wireless sensor networks in structural health monitoring can significantly increase safety and reduce manufacturing and maintenance costs. In this project, we integrate guided wave sensors with wireless sensor modules for continuous monitoring of civil structures. The wireless sensors eliminate the need for cables, reducing overall structure weight (especially important in aerospace industry) and single points of failure. We designed sensor interface boards for the Iris wireless nodes allowing transmitting and receiving guided waves using piezoelectric sensors. A distributed control algorithm is also implemented for controlling a wireless sensor network from a base station.