Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies
This systematic review examines the capabilities, challenges, and practical implementations of the most widely utilized and emerging sensing technologies in structural health monitoring (SHM) for infrastructures, addressing a critical research gap. While many existing reviews focus on individual met...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1424 |
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| author | Ali Mardanshahi Abhilash Sreekumar Xin Yang Swarup Kumar Barman Dimitrios Chronopoulos |
| author_facet | Ali Mardanshahi Abhilash Sreekumar Xin Yang Swarup Kumar Barman Dimitrios Chronopoulos |
| author_sort | Ali Mardanshahi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This systematic review examines the capabilities, challenges, and practical implementations of the most widely utilized and emerging sensing technologies in structural health monitoring (SHM) for infrastructures, addressing a critical research gap. While many existing reviews focus on individual methods, comprehensive cross-method comparisons have been limited due to the highly tailored nature of each technology. We address this by proposing a novel framework comprising five specific evaluation criteria—deployment suitability in SHM, hardware prerequisites, characteristics of the acquired signals, sensitivity metrics, and integration with Digital Twin environments—refined with subcriteria to ensure transparent and meaningful performance assessments. Applying this framework, we analyze both the advantages and constraints of established sensing technologies, including infrared thermography, electrochemical sensing, strain measurement, ultrasonic testing, visual inspection, vibration analysis, and acoustic emission. Our findings highlight critical trade-offs in scalability, environmental sensitivity, and diagnostic accuracy. Recognizing these challenges, we explore next-generation advancements such as self-sensing structures, unmanned aerial vehicle deployment, IoT-enabled data fusion, and enhanced Digital Twin simulations. These innovations aim to overcome existing limitations by enhancing real-time monitoring, data management, and remote accessibility. This review provides actionable insights for researchers and practitioners while identifying future research opportunities to advance scalable and adaptive SHM solutions for large-scale infrastructure. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-997f83d3f1c44347a088e1f3fbc19dee |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-997f83d3f1c44347a088e1f3fbc19dee2025-08-20T02:53:22ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01255142410.3390/s25051424Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation TechnologiesAli Mardanshahi0Abhilash Sreekumar1Xin Yang2Swarup Kumar Barman3Dimitrios Chronopoulos4Department of Mechanical Engineering & Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD), KU Leuven, 9000 Gent, BelgiumDepartment of Mechanical Engineering & Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD), KU Leuven, 9000 Gent, BelgiumDepartment of Mechanical Engineering & Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD), KU Leuven, 9000 Gent, BelgiumDepartment of Mechanical Engineering & Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD), KU Leuven, 9000 Gent, BelgiumDepartment of Mechanical Engineering & Mecha(tro)nic System Dynamics (LMSD), KU Leuven, 9000 Gent, BelgiumThis systematic review examines the capabilities, challenges, and practical implementations of the most widely utilized and emerging sensing technologies in structural health monitoring (SHM) for infrastructures, addressing a critical research gap. While many existing reviews focus on individual methods, comprehensive cross-method comparisons have been limited due to the highly tailored nature of each technology. We address this by proposing a novel framework comprising five specific evaluation criteria—deployment suitability in SHM, hardware prerequisites, characteristics of the acquired signals, sensitivity metrics, and integration with Digital Twin environments—refined with subcriteria to ensure transparent and meaningful performance assessments. Applying this framework, we analyze both the advantages and constraints of established sensing technologies, including infrared thermography, electrochemical sensing, strain measurement, ultrasonic testing, visual inspection, vibration analysis, and acoustic emission. Our findings highlight critical trade-offs in scalability, environmental sensitivity, and diagnostic accuracy. Recognizing these challenges, we explore next-generation advancements such as self-sensing structures, unmanned aerial vehicle deployment, IoT-enabled data fusion, and enhanced Digital Twin simulations. These innovations aim to overcome existing limitations by enhancing real-time monitoring, data management, and remote accessibility. This review provides actionable insights for researchers and practitioners while identifying future research opportunities to advance scalable and adaptive SHM solutions for large-scale infrastructure.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1424structural health monitoringdamage assessmentsensing techniquesperformance criteria |
| spellingShingle | Ali Mardanshahi Abhilash Sreekumar Xin Yang Swarup Kumar Barman Dimitrios Chronopoulos Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies Sensors structural health monitoring damage assessment sensing techniques performance criteria |
| title | Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies |
| title_full | Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies |
| title_fullStr | Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies |
| title_short | Sensing Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring: A State-of-the-Art Review on Performance Criteria and New-Generation Technologies |
| title_sort | sensing techniques for structural health monitoring a state of the art review on performance criteria and new generation technologies |
| topic | structural health monitoring damage assessment sensing techniques performance criteria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1424 |
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