37º IAHS World Congress on Housing: - Universidad de Cantabria

XXXVII <strong>IAHS</strong><strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> on HousingOctober 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, SpainCODE: 930DETECTION, PLACEMENT AND TRACKING LOADS ONSTRUCTURAL ELEMENTSF.J. Baeza, S. Ivorra, E. Zornoza, L.Gª AndiónDepartment of Construction EngineeringUniversity of Alicante, Alicante, Spaine-mail: sivorra@ua.esKey words: load tracking, load detection, health monitoring, smart structuresAbstractThis paper presents an analytical, numerical and experimental approach to detect, measure,locate and track moving loads in a structural element using discrete strain measures. Ananalytical model considering an Euler-Bernoulli beam was first studied in simple supportedbeam. Then a computer algorithm was implemented by using numerical models toautomatically detect, locate and track different concentrated loads on this structural element.Finally, steel and reinforced concrete beams were tested in the experimental phase to validatethe algorithm. Nowadays we are developing more structural types, as slabs (buildingfoundations) or plates (frameworks), and considering random boundary conditions. Togetherwith multifunctional cement composites capable of sensing strain and damage (carbon fiberreinforced cement pastes or mortars), it could be a breakthrough in the field of preventivemaintenance, offering a real time structural health monitoring system.37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 304