title: A wireless fatigue monitoring system utilizing a bio-inspired tree ring data tracking technique.
abstract: Fatigue, a hot scientific research topic for centuries, can trigger sudden failure of critical structures such as aircraft and railway systems, resulting in enormous casualties as well as economic losses. The fatigue life of certain structures is intrinsically random and few monitoring techniques are capable of tracking the full life-cycle fatigue damage. In this paper, a novel in-situ wireless real-time fatigue monitoring system using a bio-inspired tree ring data tracking technique is proposed. The general framework, methodology, and verification of this intelligent system are discussed in details. The rain-flow counting (RFC) method is adopted as the core algorithm which quantifies fatigue damages, and Digital Signal Processing (DSP) is introduced as the core module for data collection and analysis. Laboratory test results based on strain gauges and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) sensors have shown that the developed intelligent system can provide a reliable quick feedback and early warning of fatigue failure. With the merits of low cost, high accuracy and great reliability, the developed wireless fatigue sensing system can be further applied to mechanical engineering, civil infrastructures, transportation systems, aerospace engineering, etc.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China. stone3214@163.com.
authors.forename: Shi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China. milanlx1988@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Software Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China. xie.zhao.hui@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Zhaohui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China. zhouzhi@dlut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Civil Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China. milanlx1988@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jinping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ou
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002138:Calibration; D003198:Computer Simulation; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D012984:Software; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014197:Trees / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D059015:Wireless Technology; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers