Structural damage detection using wireless passive sensing platform based on RFID technology

A wireless and battery-free passive sensing platform is proposed for structural damage detection. The platform is based on the radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, where a standard RFID transponder device serves as an interface between low-power sensors - used for damage detection - and RFID reading devices. Sensor data are transmitted remotely from this sensing platform to a Personal Computer (PC) that controls the entire system. Energy harvesting is the major novelty of the proposed approach. The magnetic field produced by an antenna of the RFID reading device is used for energy harvesting. The platform supports different types of sensors that can be positioned in remote locations and used for structural damage detection. The sensing capability and the damage detection performance of the proposed system are demonstrated using two simple application examples, that is, vibration measurements in a beam-like structure subjected to the force excitation and temperature measurements in a bearing that supports a rotating shaft. The results illustrate the great potential of the proposed sensing platform for structural health monitoring applications, particularly in remote, difficult-access, or hazardous conditions. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.