Construction Monitoring and Observation

Code:

EC0047

Acronym:

IOOB

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Materials

Instance: 2011/2012 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Construction Materials Division
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Civil Engineering

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIEC	10	Syllabus since 2006/2007	5	-	5	52,5	133

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

-The main objectives are:
To provide basic knowledge regarding the use of testing equipments for the observation of the behaviour of materials and structures along different phases of their life time (construction, reception, service, rehabilitation or strengthening), submitted to static or dynamic loads;
- To present non-destructive techniques used in structural diagnosis and evaluation of structural safety;
- To refer System Identification techniques used to estimate dynamic properties of large scale structures and develop finite element updating and validation;
- To characterise objectives, techniques and procedures for Long-term Structural Monitoring (monitoring of loads, static monitoring, dynamic monitoring and monitoring of durability);
- To illustrate the importance and usefulness of Testing and Structural Monitoring by presenting a large variety of case studies, involving inspection, performance of static and dynamic tests and long-term monitoring.

Program

Introduction. Historical evolution of this field in the context of Civil Engineering.
Metrology. Measurement methods. Quality of Data – Uncertainty and errors.
Instrumentation and Data systems: transducers and sensors. Accuracy, resolution and range. Signal conditioning and data transmision.
Displacement transducers: Dial gages, LVDt and potenciometers.
Strain-Measurement Methods. Types of Strain-Gages: mechanical, electrical and accustical (vibrating wire).
Electrical-resistance strain-gages: strain sensitivity; gage construction, adhesives and mounting methods; gage sensitivities and gage factor; enviromental effects.
Weatstone bridge circuit. Effect of lead wires. Load cells.
Temperature sensing devices:thermocouples, thermitors and RTDs.
Structural observation and monitoring.
Materials characterization tests. Load tests.
Non-destructive testing for diagnosis and structural evaluation. Ultrasonic testing. Resistivity measurement. Electromagnetic methods of testing. Case studies and applications.

Instrumentation and monitoring of geotechnical works. Measurement of superficial displacements: topographical mehods and convergences. Measurement of internal displacements. Total pressures measurement. State of stress determination using load cells. Pore water pressure measurement: hydraulic piezometers, pneumatic piezometers and electric piezometers.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE SYLLABUS COHERENCE WITH THE CURRICULAR UNIT'S OBJECTIVES:

Construction Observation is becoming more recognized as essential for the evaluation of their behavior and its structural safety. The awareness of the economic and social effects due to aging, deterioration and damage of structures, associated with recent technological developments in the area of instrumentation leads to a growing development and implementation of monitoring systems for frequent or continuous observation to increase the lifetime of the structures or set repair strategies.

Teaching methods and learning activities

The lessons are of the theoretician-practical type (3.5h of lesson per week),
for exemplification of the teaching subjects and for the accomplishment of experimental assays.

Practical works in laboratory.

DEMONSTRATION OF THE COHERENCE BETWEEN THE TEACHING METHODOLOGIES AND THE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Application of various test and instrumentation systems for the characterization of new materials and the observation of structural integrity, identifying and comparing their suitability in relation to the required objectives. Analyze and criticize inspection projects. To relate the results obtained by different sampling techniques. Proposing of new methodologies and systems for evaluating the structural integrity and lifetime increase. To criticize the methodologies used and to anticipate strategies of assessment and diagnosis. Dealing with real situations monitoring and evaluation of associated critical information. Explore and develop new tools for structural evaluation. Contact and participate in real cases of observation/diagnosis.

keywords

Technological sciences > Engineering > Civil engineering > Structural engineering
Technological sciences > Technology > Instrumentation technology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	49,00
Practical exercise 1	Teste	10,00		2011-12-16
Practical exercise 2	Teste	10,00		2011-12-16
Exam	Exame	3,00
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
Study	Estudo autónomo	31
	Total:	31,00

Eligibility for exams

Realization of pratical works reports.
Students should attend to 75% of the classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final grade is taken as the weighted average of the Distributed Evaluation and the Final Exam, whose weights are 0.15 and 0.85 respectively. The final classification is rounded to the nearest integer.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

In accordance with FEUP assessment regulations.

SPECIAL RULES FOR MOBILITY STUDENTS:
Proficiency in Portuguese or in English.
In the written exams, exercises ou practical works, mobility students may use one of the following languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish and French.

Observations

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Estimated working time out of classes: 4 hours