An Exploration of Leveraging CVM Sensors to Monitor Structures Across Various Industries - Part 1: Mining, Infrastructure and Marine

Over the past decade, there has been a growing interest in exploring new tools and methodologies to improve safety and concurrently reduce maintenance and repair costs. Nondestructive Testing (NDT) methods have been instrumental in inspecting structural conditions, but the increasing demand for continuous Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) has led to the adoption of technologies such as Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVM). As an FAA-certified, nondestructive, failsafe SHM system, CVM utilizes pneumatic sensor technology to efficiently monitor the onset and propagation of structural cracks in real-time, facilitating condition-based maintenance. When coupled with remote interrogation, CVM can overcome a myriad of inspection impediments stemming from accessibility limitations, complex geometries, the location of hidden damage, and the isolated location of the structure. Although validation and certification programs have established the viability of these sensors for monitoring diverse structures such as bridges, buildings, aircraft, ships, wind turbines, railroad cars and mining equipment, a compilation of capabilities addressing specific industry pain-points remains unrealized. This study focuses on the capabilities of CVM, evaluating their applications in addressing industrial challenges. The technology's versatility is assessed through the cross-industry innovation strategy of Testia, examining its efficacy in diverse sectors. The paper emphasizes the practical implementation of CVM for automated damage detection, aiming to drive optimized and timely maintenance decisions. Furthermore, this paper explores the implementation of a distributed CVM sensor network and its impact on solving industrial challenges. These findings empower end-users to evaluate economic and technical benefits, fostering opportunities for widespread technology implementation. By enabling quick and remote sensor data gathering, CVM systems can revolutionize maintenance practices and enable proactive, predictive and optimized monitoring schemes. The application of SHM technologies in sustaining critical structures has a potential to significantly reduce maintenance costs, minimize repairs through early damage detection, address uncertainties in structural aging and prevent premature failures.