Transportation infrastructure demands reliable, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and safe solutions. It is, therefore, crucial to leverage both the knowledge gained from current practices and the potential offered by emerging technologies. This paper uses the scoring system approached in the INFRACOMS project to offer a framework for asset managers and technology providers to identify areas of improvement and make informed decisions regarding selecting and implementing remote condition monitoring solutions. We focus on two technologies for bridges, like bridge weigh-in-motion and digital inspection and centre around four areas: data analysis, visualisation and integration and potential for practical decision-making. Technologies are evaluated based on their intended use, acknowledging that some may have multiple applications due to novel sensor installations or data interpretation/visualisation methods. Consequently, a technology may undergo multiple appraisals within this system. We showcase the benefits of the scoring system, alignment with specific use cases, and potential for broad applicability.

Monitoring or identifying structural cracks is crucial for assessing the health of existing concrete structures. Key information about structural cracking encompasses the location of the crack and its kinematics, which include movements perpendicular and parallel to the crack face. Acoustic emission (AE) is a sensitive technique for detecting the location of internal concrete cracking. However, the state-of-the-art AE monitoring methods offer limited information on crack kinematics, restricting the use of AE in crack assessment. To bridge this gap, this paper uses a recently proposed AE data analysis method that quantifies the spatial distribution of AE events along a crack probabilistically. This method uses a parameter referred to as the probability density of AE events (pdAE). By combining pdAE and crack kinematics measured by digital image correlation in a series of real-scale concrete beam tests, this paper investigates the relationship between AE events and crack kinematics. The analysed cracks are generated by a combination of bending moment and shear forces, as commonly observed in real structural concrete members. We find that the amount of AE events is not only related to crack width (the crack movement perpendicular to the crack face), as most literature suggests, but also to the complete crack kinematics throughout the loading history of the member. We then provide a physical explanation for the observed relationships between concrete crack kinematics and the quantity of AE events.

This paper proposes a new damage identification method, namely, the probability density field of acoustic emission (AE) events. This new method provides a different perspective to deal with the uncertainties in the source localization process. We treat the source location as a random variable, and estimate its probability density field based on a probability density function. The function was found from simulations where various uncertainties were included. The probability of AE events falling in a certain space range is the integral of the probability densities over that range. We apply the new method in a failure test of a full-scale reinforced concrete beam. The resultant probability density field clearly reflects the crack patterns of the specimen and a close relationship with the crack width.

Advanced monitoring methods are required to identify stop criteria in proof-load tests. In this study, the combined methodology of two-dimensional digital image correlation and acoustic emission is investigated for its applicability for future implementation in field tests. The two monitoring systems are deemed to provide valuable insight with external measurements from digital image correlation and internal measurements from acoustic emission. Two overturned T-section reinforced concrete slabs (0.37 × 1.7 × 8.4 m) tested under laboratory conditions are used for the assessment. The first slab test served as a preliminary test to enable sensor placement and creation of a relevant loading protocol. The main scientific results lead to a proposal for a test procedure using the combined methodology based on results, observations, and experiences from an individual stop criteria assessment for the two methods. The results include full-field plots, an investigation of the time of crack detection and monitoring of crack widths with digital image correlation, and a qualitative assessment of activity vs. load followed by a quantitative evaluation of calm ratios using acoustic emission. The individual results show that both digital image correlation and acoustic emission can identify damage occurrence earlier than other secondary methods. At crack detection (415 kN), crack widths were measured at widths between 0.078 mm to 0.125 mm and can be monitored until reaching the stop criterion at 463 kN (Eurocode SLS threshold of wmax = 0.2 mm). The acoustic emission results were limited by the pre-defined loading protocol and thus, only indicated that damage occurred sometime between 300 kN and 500 kN (pre-defined load levels). Therefore, the proposal for test procedure involves a methodology, where the loading protocol may be updated during testing based on monitoring results and thus provide even more valuable data.

Acoustic emission (AE) signal parameters can be used to classify the source type in concrete structures. However, signal parameters are influenced by the wave propagation from the source to the receiver, leading to wrong source classification results, especially for monitoring large concrete structures. This paper experimentally evaluates the influence of wave travel distance on signal parameters on a full-scale shear test of a reinforced concrete beam. The evaluated signal parameters include the RA value, average frequency, peak frequency, frequency centroid, and partial power. The evaluation reveals the limitation of using RA value - average frequency trends in large scale structural concrete members. Based on the evaluation, we propose a new source classification criterion using peak frequency or partial power, which can effectively classify the source type. The new criterion is also validated in a reinforced concrete slab test, which is another structural type. Based on the new criterion, we suggest a sensor layout that is suitable for source classification for large concrete structures. The results of this paper can help developing a reliable solution for real-time source classification for large concrete structures in general.

Acoustic emission source localization is a promising monitoring technique for concrete structures. However, the accuracy of acoustic emission source localization is influenced by many factors, such as the presence of cracks, which are commonly observed in existing reinforced concrete structures. In this article, the acoustic emission source localization is evaluated using a numerical model with a total number of 11,827,200 independent simulated tests. In this work, the investigated influential factors include the presence of cracks, arrival time picking error, and senor layout. The accuracy of source localization is quantified by the characteristic error defined in this article. Using the proposed wave propagation properties, a relatively stable characteristic error of 150 mm is estimated in the detection zone with the maximum sensor spacing less than 1 m. The evaluation approach and simulated characteristic error are validated experimentally by comparing the 200 manually generated signals using hammer hits on a cracked concrete beam.

Interaction of ultrasonic waves with partially-closed surface-breaking cracks in concrete structures has been studied. Measurements have been conducted on a reinforced concrete beam containing various mechanical-load-induced cracks and compared with the baseline measurements at those locations. Influence of crack width, incident angle of waves with cracks, and distance from the cracks on travel time and amplitude of the waves have been investigated when the beam was unloaded. It has been observed that a measurable part of the waves propagate through the cracks due to the acoustic coupling between the crack faces, although attenuation can be relatively high. The travel time has shown a nearly independent behavior from remaining crack opening in the measured range of 0.05 mm to 3 mm. Measurements in directions orthogonal and parallel to the crack suggest that there is substantial anisotropy in the cracking zone. Furthermore, an effective width of the micro-cracking area around the cracks has been estimated from the measurements.