Structural health monitoring of timber structures: methods, sensors and real-world applications

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) of timber structures is assuming importance due to its growing use in modern architecture and infrastructures, as well as the needs of preserving historic timber buildings. Traditional inspection methods are limited by their discrete approach and inability to monitor long-term trends, whereas modern SHM systems provide continuous and real-time insights through the integration with various sensor technologies. As main objective, SHM in timber structures is devoted to early detection of damage and degradation mechanisms of material, mainly related to moisture absorption issues, sensitivity to environmental changes and biotic and abiotic attacks. Thus, SHM is particularly effective for investigating the structural behaviour of timber structures in earthquake-prone areas. Displacement sensors can be used to measure relative displacements of components over the time, vibration sensors to identify dynamic behavior and potential weakening of structural integrity, moisture sensors to monitor internal wood moisture levels that can lead to decay or fungal growth and humidity sensors to track ambient conditions that affect timber performance. Together, these sensors may offer a comprehensive understanding of both the structural and environmental behaviour of timber under seismic loading and other dynamic forces. This paper presents a state-of-the-art review of SHM techniques applied to timber structures, highlighting current technologies, their advantages and limitations and their suitability for different structural configurations. It also reports real-world case studies from seismic regions to illustrate the practical application of these monitoring systems, particularly in evaluating the timber structure’s performance during and after earthquakes. The insights from these case studies help establish best practices for SHM implementation, enhancing the safety, durability and sustainability of timber structures in earthquake-prone areas.