Experimental Study of Structural Health

Data Communications and Networking

Monitoring of Building

Patrick Hanes C. Barte1, Mia Dianne Q. Calva2, Denzell James I. Celestino3, Noel Leandro Sapitanan4, Ronnie S.
Concepcion II5
1,2,3,4
Electronics Engineering, Las Pinas City, Metro Manila, Philippines
5
School of Graduate School, Mapua Institute of Technology, Intramuros, Manila, Philippines
1
phbarte@gmail.com
2
dcalva120902@gmail.com
3
noelleandro1994@gmail.com
4
celestinodenzell@gmail.com
5
concepcionriis@gmail.com

wireless sensor network current time structural health

AbstractThis study focuses on the understanding and
applying what we have learned in data communication in
constructing a structural health monitoring system. Our main
goal is to make a device that is simple to use with a user-
friendly interface that offers to showcase a graphical
representation of the data.
Index Termsstructural health monitoring, adxl345,
MATLAB, SigVIEW, XBee, FFT, Gizduino, Acceleration,
Frequency, Amplitude, Gravity.
I. INTRODUCTION
monitoring. The parameter to be monitored by the system is
the structural vibration through the ADXL345
accelerometer. The project has been tested on a modified
case which was weighing less that could propagate vibration
when there was external movement. The delimitation of this
research project were the general health status of the whole
building either it was in Good or in Bad health condition
already. Wherein this research project implemented in a
specific place at a time thus it only covered that specific
place health status condition.

T HIS Building structures are exposed to different

types of loading during its service life, which
might not have been considered in design or
during construction process. These effects may be attributed
to exposure to aggressive environment, overloading,
II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

In the entitled Energy-Efficient and Fault-Tolerant

excessive vibration, fatigue, etc. which in turn may lead to
damage of structural elements. Thus, significant changes in
structure performance may occur to partial or global
building collapse. Later, valuation of damage and its repair
process estimated in terms of recovery duration to determine
the margin safety and serviceability of buildings.
The main objective of this project is to develop a wireless
sensor network that can measure the amount of vibrations to
evaluate and monitor the structural health of a building.
Specifically, the study will address the following: (1) to
integrate ADXL345 accelerometer with Gizduino and
ZigBee module for short range data communications; (2) to
develop a MATLAB program that will display the current
time vibration of the building; (3) to monitor the structural
health of a building through vibration.
This research project is designed to develop an efficient
instrumentation strategy for SHM for tall and mid-rise
buildings to monitor their static and dynamic behavior and
assess the structural conditions. Developed methods to
establish the relationship among sensors in terms of patterns
of data obtained from them and monitor the patterns to
detect
potential anomaly in the system.
This research project focused on the development of a
Structural Health Monitoring in Wireless Sensor Networks,
focuses on how to localize a damage in different types of
structures. Using variety types of sensors like accelerometer,
strain gauges that can be used to measure structural health
response (Bhuiyan et al., 2012).
In the article entitled Structural Health Monitoring of
Building Structures with Online Data Mining Methods,
focuses on detecting damages of a structured building by
designing a process to comply for structural health
monitoring (Villegas et al., 2015)
In the study entitled Structural health monitoring of river
bridges using wireless sensor networks, aside from using
wireless sensor network for structural health monitoring
(Vatti et al., 2015).
In the study entitled Vibration Monitoring Using MEMS
Digital Accelerometer with ATmega and LabVIEW Interface
for Space Application, in this study they used ADXL 345
vibration MEMS based digital sensor to measure shock and
static acceleration of motion it is used as a tilt sensor
(Abraham et al., 2014).
A study entitled Wireless Sensor Nodes with MEMS
Accelerometer for Structural Health Monitoring System of
Jones Bridge, it focuses on the development of wireless
sensor networks and vibration monitoring methods to
evaluate the in-service condition of highway bridges (Tuyay
et al., 2015).
A study entitled Structural Health Monitoring of a Tall
 Data Communications and Networking

Building of Bogazici University, it focuses on system

identification, finite element updating procedure and
earthquake performance assessment of a tall building are
performed (Soyz et al.,2014). Frequency domain
decomposition method is used for system identification.
Based on identified mode shapes and frequencies (Soyz et
al., 2014).
Fig. 3 shows the Impulse Response Function
Measurement of the Tall Building of Bogazici University. It
show the variation of Acceleration vs. Time in time domain.
III. METHODOLOGY

The study focuses on the development of a structural

health monitoring system for Engineering Building of
University of Perpetual Help System Delta engaging with
analyzation of structural vibration information. Designing
Structural Health Monitoring of building using wireless
communication is the prime process of the study. This
chapter of the study summaries the systematic methods and
procedures engaging the SHM designing. It consists of
Conceptual Frame work, Research Process Flow and Block
Diagram.

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Monitoring of the status of Engineering Building structural health

Interfacing
Engineering Building VibrationWireless
Data Communication with ZigBee and Girduino

Fig 1. Vibration Measurement (Soyz et al., 2014)

Fig. 1 shows the vibration Measurement of the Tall
Building of Bogazici University. It show the variation of
Acceleration vs. Time.
Fig. 4 Conceptual framework of the study
Figure 3.1 shows the major sections of the system that is
composed of input, process and output. The inputs of the
project are gathered from the digital accelerometer and Real
Time Clock (RTC) module with addition of Gizduino Uno
board and ZigBee. The raw vibration data undergoes to a
Gizduino. A characterized model for actual compensation
will be embedded in the Gizduino board. The processed data
will be transmitted to the laptop. The output of the system is
monitoring of the status of engineering building health in
terms of vibration.

MONITORIN
G OF
Fig. 2 Power Density Measurement (Soyz et al., 2014) DOCUMENT
ATION OF
ROTATION
PER MINUTE STUDYING
PORTABLE
DATA TACHOMETE
GATHERED R
Fig. 2 shows the Power Density Measurement of the
Tall Building of Bogazici University. It show the TESTING
AND DEVELOPIN
RUNNING G
variation of Frequency vs. G in FFT. OF
PROTOTYPE
OBJECTIVES

CODING AND RESEARCH

DEBUGGING ABOUT
GUI RELATED
DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

INTERFACING
ACCELEROMET GATHERING
ER WITH REQUIRED
GIZDUINO AND PLANNING DATA
ZIGBEE AND
DESIGNING
THE
SYSTEM

Fig. 4 Research process of the study

This shows the whole process of the research project from

Fig. 3 Impulse Response Function (Soyz et al., 2014) planning the objectives of the project, research about related

studies, gathered necessary data and the materials to be use,
testing and calibrating the components, coding and
debugging the program and formulate a GUI and designing
and implementing the whole system.
ZigBe
e Tx Rx
CORE
Gizdui
no CONTRO
L UNIT
ADXL VIBRATI
345 ON DATA
Fig. 5 Block Diagram of the study
This shows the ideal system of the Structural Health
Monitoring System from Transmitter, Receiver, and Core
control unit to Vibration data. The processed data will be
transmitted to the laptop.
Fig. 6 Schematic Diagram of Experimental Study of
Structural Health Monitoring of Building
The figure above shows the connection of the prototype
design of the structural health monitoring system interfacing
with Xbee, ADXL345 accelerometer and Gizduino
Microcontroller.
Fig. 7 ADXL345 digital accelerometers
In addition to the LCD and the sensor an LED also added
at pin 13 that changes it state whenever the sensor reads or
not any signal, that way we could monitor the rate in with
the shaft spins.
Fig. 8 Gizduino
Data Communications and Networking
It is an open source computing platform based on a
simple input/output (I/O) board and the use of standard
programming language; in otherwords, it is a tool for
implementing a program you have designed. Gizduino is
programmed using the IDE (Integrated Development
Environment).
Fig. 9 ZigBee Module
This is the XBee XBP24CZ7WIT-004 module allow a
very reliable and simple communication between
microcontrollers, computers, systems, really anything with a
serial port! Point to point and multi-point networks are
supported.
TROUBLESHOOTING
Fig. 9 Prototype Assembly
Fig. 9 shows the assembly of the prototype system. The
troubleshooting occurred in modified flat form chassis to
create vibration when movement occurs.
DATA AND RESULTS
Fig. 10 Realterm Screenshot Value
Fig. 10 shows the data displayed from the ADXL345
accelerometer to realterm capture program in an X Y Z Axis
Values.
Fig. 11 MATLAB UI

Fig. 11 shows the MATHLAB User interface of the
design system of structural health monitoring. It is later
export to excel for graphical analysis of the data in
SigVIEW.
Fig. 12 Time domain of accelerometer x-axis
Fig. 12 shows the spikes of acceleration in G force
unit which were induced by walking persons . The maximum
and minimum values incurred are 1.56g and 1.18g,
respectively.
Fig. 13 Frequency domain of accelerometer x-axis
Fig. 13 shows the frequency spectrum of thirty minute-
worth data for x-axis of ADXL345 accelerometer. The five
highest frequencies are 4.4751Hz, 0.25757Hz, 0.75915,
0.057373Hz, and 0.059814Hz. The mean frequency is
1.12180Hz. Considering the standard for structural health
monitoring frequency is rated 0.92 Hz.
Fig. 14 Time domain of accelerometer y-axis
Fig. 14 shows the spikes of acceleration in G force unit
which were induced by walking persons. The maximum and
minimum values incurred are -0.2 g/s2 and -0.48 g/s2,
respectively. Thus it shows a healthy condition.
Fig. 15 Frequency domain of accelerometer y-axis
Fig. 15 shows the frequency spectrum of thirty minute-
worth data for x-axis of ADXL345 accelerometer. The five
Data Communications and Networking
highest frequencies are 2.8339Hz, 0.05127Hz,
0.0061035Hz, 0.0091553Hz, and 0.0036621Hz. The mean
frequency is 0.58081818Hz. Considering the standard for
structural health monitoring frequency is rated 0.92 Hz.
Fig. 16 Time domain of accelerometer z-axis
Fig. 16 shows the spikes of acceleration in G force unit
which were induced by walking persons. The maximum and
minimum values incurred are 1.99g and 1.97g, respectively.
Fig. 17 Frequency domain of accelerometer z-axis
Fig. 17 shows the frequency spectrum of thirty minute-
worth data for x-axis of ADXL345 accelerometer. The five
highest frequencies are 1.8329Hz, 4.4781Hz, 4.4757Hz,
1.8304Hz, and 0.0024414Hz. The mean frequency is
2.52390828Hz. Considering the standard for structural
health monitoring frequency is rated 0.92 Hz.
Fig. 18 Differentiation of x (red), y (black), and z (blue)
axes
Fig. 18 shows the differentiation of the data obtained
from X (red), Y (black), and Z (blue) axes through ADXL
345 accelerometer.
Fig. 19 Deviation of x (red), y (black), and z (blue) axes
mean values
Fig. 19 shows the deviation from the data obtained on X
(red), Y (black), and Z (blue) axes through ADXL 345
accelerometer.
 Data Communications and Networking

Data Table

Fig. 19 X Axis , Y- Axis and Z Axis Raw Data Gathered

from ADXL345 Accelerometer.

IV. CONCLUSION

We have there for conclude that the developed system

was able to measure the vibration of the structure and it
could now transmit the monitored data through xbee
wireless communication. The vibration data where able to
display and execute in realterm program and in MATLAB
program whereas it was then converted into FFT in sigview.
Amplitude vs. Frequency, Acceleration vs. time were one of
the results that could obtain from the designed system.

V. RECOMMENDATION

For future researchers, the researchers recommend to

modify the case of the sensor so that it would consistently
read and monitored data when vibration occurs. It is also
recommended to use MATLAB to convert the monitored
data into frequency for keen observation and study as well.

VI. ACKNOWLEDGMENT

We would like to thank first God for giving us peace and

who strengthen us while doing these design project and for
leading us to show our more self. We would like to thank
our Professor, Sir Ronnie Concepcion II for giving us the
opportunity to design and learn more about Data
Communications System and be able to understand the
importance of this to our respected chosen field. To each
group mates and everyones family members for covering
some of our expenses and letting them stay out until we
finished the prototyping, testing and final documentations.
To Jamess mom Mrs. Jadloc for letting us conduct group
works together at their place. Our classmates and friends
that encourage each and everyones skills in learning. Our
significant others that teaches us to love one another to the
point of loving them at their worst to loving them to their
best. This one goes to our friends and family who were
always been there to support us in every way we need. All
glory to God.

VII. REFERENCES
 Data Communications and Networking

[1] Bhuiyan, "Energy-Efficient and Fault-Tolerant Structural Health Monitoring in Wireless Sensor Networks," 2012.

[2] Villegas, "Structural Health Monitoring of Building Structures with Online Data Mining Methods," 2015.

[3] Vatti, "Structural health monitoring of river bridges using wireless sensor networks," 2015.

[4] Abraham, "Vibration Monitoring Using MEMS Digital Accelerometer with ATmega and LabVIEW Interface for Space
Application," 2014.

[5] Tuyay, "Wireless Sensor Nodes with MEMS Accelerometer for Structural Health Monitoring System of Jones Bridge," 2015.

[6] Soyoz, "Structural Health Monitoring of a Tall Building of Bogazici University," 2014.