The purpose of this project is to accelerate the uptake of combined and multi-modal monitoring methods that support total life-cycle management of user-critical devices, structures and systems.

This is best achieved by creating a demonstrator: a 15 tonne, 5 metre high, 20 metre long concrete bridge and the largest specimen ever created at NPL. Built in the mid 1960s and used for more than 40 years, it has recently been moved to create a test bed for many different techniques for monitoring structures. It is important to realise that the real value of this structure is as a specimen; the structure is no longer "live" and therefore can be artificially aged.

Using the structure in this way allows several aims to be achieved:

• It acts as a demonstrator to show the benefits of structural health monitoring and the advantages of using multi-modal monitoring methods to the wider civil engineering community.
• It becomes a reference specimen to allow sensor suppliers a test bed to assess the performance of their techniques through the year.
• It provides information suitable for lifetime prediction as it undergoes accelerated testing.

More Information

• Project Background
• Monitoring Technology
• Modelling
• Tests and Results
• Event Calendar
• Project Members
• Contacts