Infrastructure Structural Health Monitoring via Infrasound

Abstract

Infrasound is an emerging remote sensing technology related to low-frequency acoustics. This paper provides a state-of-the-art assessment of infrasound's ability to detect and monitor a diverse array of infrastructure, including a discussion of best practices for use and potential limitations. This paper follows field experiments where researchers were focused on a single bridge source with infrasound (remote monitoring) and on-structure instrumentation, in which the on-structure data validated infrasound data. After completing the assessment of the bridge of primary interest, the question of wide-area infrasound monitoring was raised. While the original experiment series focused on a single bridge source, further evaluation of the data set identified multiple sources within the area of study via infrasound, allowing investigation of the feasibility of multiple-source monitoring. These additional sources included hydraulic features, bridges, industrial activity, and a dam. Some of these features were detected via infrasound while others were not.