Cited by 492Structural Health Monitoring TechniquesStructural Engineering and Materials AnalysisAdvanced Fiber Optic Sensors

A Systematic Review of Advanced Sensor Technologies for Non-Destructive Testing and Structural Health Monitoring

Open access
Hassani, Sahar, Dackermann, Ulrike·2023·Sensors

Abstract

This paper reviews recent advances in sensor technologies for non-destructive testing (NDT) and structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil structures. The article is motivated by the rapid developments in sensor technologies and data analytics leading to ever-advancing systems for assessing and monitoring structures. Conventional and advanced sensor technologies are systematically reviewed and evaluated in the context of providing input parameters for NDT and SHM systems and for their suitability to determine the health state of structures. The presented sensing technologies and monitoring systems are selected based on their capabilities, reliability, maturity, affordability, popularity, ease of use, resilience, and innovation. A significant focus is placed on evaluating the selected technologies and associated data analytics, highlighting limitations, advantages, and disadvantages. The paper presents sensing techniques such as fiber optics, laser vibrometry, acoustic emission, ultrasonics, thermography, drones, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), magnetostrictive sensors, and next-generation technologies.

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Crossref · 10.3390/s23042204

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  • For SHM systems, railway traffic is monitored by static/dynamic strain gauges and high-definition video cameras.

    “| Railway traffic | -Static/dynamic strain gauges -High-definition video cameras | |”

    From Effects of Environmental and Operational Conditions on Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing: A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [141]

    Section 4.4 (page unavailable) identifies strain gauges and vision-based cameras as SHM sensors, and Section 4 says SHM can be applied to railway tracks. The passages do not say that railway traffic is monitored with static/dynamic strain gauges and high-definition video cameras specifically. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • For SHM systems, temperature is monitored by temperature sensors, fiber optic sensors, thermocouples, and barometers.

    “| | | -Fiber optic sensors |”

    From Effects of Environmental and Operational Conditions on Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing: A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [141]

    Section 4.4.13, “Temperature Sensors” (page unavailable), identifies thermocouples and fiber optic sensors among the sensors used to measure temperature for SHM. It does not identify barometers as temperature-monitoring sensors, so that item is unsupported. (LLM, conf=0.88)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Advanced sensing systems are less labor intensive.

    “• | less labor intensivity, | |”

    From Effects of Environmental and Operational Conditions on Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing: A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [141]

    Section 4.4 says wireless sensing avoids labor-intensive cabling and UAV sensors reduce logistics and working hours. These examples support lower labor demands for particular advanced sensing systems, but the review does not establish that advanced sensing systems are generally less labor intensive. (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • For SHM systems, wind is monitored by hygrometers, ultrasonic and propeller anemometers, and visibility and precipitation sensors.

    “| Wind | -Hygrometers -Ultrasonic and propeller anemometers | |”

    From Effects of Environmental and Operational Conditions on Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing: A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [141]

    Section 4.2 identifies wind as an environmental factor relevant to SHM and says Table 15 lists sensors for measuring such conditions. Section 4.4.1 also identifies wind as an ambient property measured in SHM. The retrieved passages do not identify hygrometers, ultrasonic or propeller anemometers, or visibility and precipitation sensors as wind-monitoring devices. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Advanced sensing systems have more accuracy and reliability.

    “• | more accuracy and reliability, | |”

    From Effects of Environmental and Operational Conditions on Structural Health Monitoring and Non-Destructive Testing: A Systematic Review (2023) · cites this paper as [141]

    Section 3.3 reports improved accuracy for ultrasonic sensors, while Section 4.4 describes improved reliability for sensor networks and vision-based sensors. These examples support the general direction of the claim, but the review does not establish that advanced sensing systems as a whole have both greater accuracy and greater reliability; it also notes accuracy limitations for vision-based sensors. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 25

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Authors
Hassani, S., & Dackermann, U.
Affiliations
UNSW Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Dackermann, Ulrike
Venue
Sensors
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2023-02-15
Volume
23
Issue
4
Pages
2204
ISSN
1424-8220 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4321099465
Cited by
492
References
440
Citations by year
2026: 158 · 2025: 190 · 2024: 112 · 2023: 32
FWCI
10.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Sensors (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Structural Health Monitoring Techniques
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Structural Engineering and Materials Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Advanced Fiber Optic Sensors
Keywords
non-destructive testing, structural health monitoring, civil engineering structures, sensor technology, fiber optic sensors, laser vibrometry, acoustic emission, ultrasonics, infrared thermography, unmanned aerial vehicles, MEMS sensors, magnetostrictive sensors, data analytics, structural health assessment

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