Detailed evaluation of low-cost ranging sensors for structural health monitoring applications

Abstract

To evaluate the safety of structures, choosing a proper maintains protocol to assess the performance/ workability of the structures in the future, Structural health monitoring (SHM) applications are required. The SHM application usually applies to unique structures with high budgets. For using them on structures with low-budgets low-cost sensors required. Low-cost sensors are getting considerable attention compared with the expensive traditional alternatives. This paper introduces 3 types of low-cost displacement measuring sensors. These sensors were programmed and controlled by an Arduino. Acquiring data from them was done by a connected computer to the Arduino. By engaging these sensors in a few experiments and evaluating their responses, their functionality and accuracy in different situations are investigated. Moreover, the pros and cons of each one of them for each test are illustrated. By taking into account their price, their advantages on exceptional circumstances, and their reliability, different sensors for different situations have been proposed.