Researchers at Bournemouth University have developed and patented a new corrosion sensor that improves the safety and reliability of large structures such as bridges, aircraft, military vehicles and gas pipelines.
The device can detect major infrastructure flaws and risks much earlier than the methods currently in use. Not only does it improve safety, it also reduces the need for time-consuming repairs. This can be very costly and inconvenient for the industry and the public.
Zulfiqar Khan, Professor of Design Engineering and Computing at Bournemouth University, who led the development, said:
“This sensor works on the same principle. If we can detect health risks in vehicle and mechanical structures before they reach a dangerous stage of corrosion, we can avoid costly and time-consuming repairs and hopefully It can prevent the structure from being completely scrapped.”
Other corrosion sensors are used in the industry and some are available on eBay, but they all require a cable to connect to your computer. This means that maintenance must be done with personnel on site. Because Professor Khan’s device is wireless, it can be attached to structures and measurements can be continuously monitored off-site.
As an added benefit, the sensor can be used on any kind of surface, but most current devices only work on metal surfaces where the electricity from the sensor must pass.
“For example, the aerospace industry would prefer sensors that can detect faults under non-metallic coatings. However, this can be counterproductive as it can initiate corrosion more quickly,” explained Professor Khan.
“Unmonitored faults lead to costly consequences. Routine inspections are tedious, time consuming and mostly limited to visual or cosmetic defects. It’s a much-needed futuristic solution that can work remotely, work on metallic and non-metallic surfaces, and detect defects millimeters below the surface that are invisible to the naked eye,” he continued.
Professor Kahn’s product is the latest development in a series of research projects that began over a decade ago at the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset. This museum houses his one of the most important collections of tanks and military vehicles in the world. Professor Khan’s team has applied that expertise to develop a means of monitoring vehicle corrosion to help preserve cultural heritage.
This work ultimately led to the development of a £2.5 million conservation center for the most endangered tanks. The team also identified maintenance work that could be performed on some of the tanks so that they could be driven safely around the exhibit and the public could see them in action.
The team then secured funding in 2016 to work with a US infrastructure company to help technology enhance their business and deliver commercial benefits.
The technology is now patented in the UK and US, and Professor Khan and his team hope to work with partners to roll it out across the industry so that engineering and construction companies can realize its benefits. increase. The device not only benefits operational infrastructure, but also benefits businesses with large fleets of vehicles and machinery that may be stored in depots that are not regularly used or serviced.
“It’s like coming home from work and wanting the food in the back of the cupboard only to find that it’s past its sell-by date,” he said. “Our devices can continuously monitor mechanical structures to ensure they are always up to date and do not need to be scrapped,” concluded Professor Khan.
To learn more about sensors and their potential applications in industry, please contact Professor Khan. [email protected].
Original: New sensors can prevent major structural defects from reaching costly and dangerous levels
Than: Bournemouth University
