A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths

This paper presents a standardized apparatus and method for testing the accuracy of mobile phone apps designed to measure concrete crack widths. The apparatus comprises a standardized crack-width calibration plate (CWCP) and a simulated wall (SW), along with a pose adjusting and fixing device (PAFD)...

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Main Authors: Chyuan-Hwan Jeng, Min Chao, Jian-Hung Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Eng
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/6/122
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author Chyuan-Hwan Jeng
Min Chao
Jian-Hung Chen
author_facet Chyuan-Hwan Jeng
Min Chao
Jian-Hung Chen
author_sort Chyuan-Hwan Jeng
collection DOAJ
description This paper presents a standardized apparatus and method for testing the accuracy of mobile phone apps designed to measure concrete crack widths. The apparatus comprises a standardized crack-width calibration plate (CWCP) and a simulated wall (SW), along with a pose adjusting and fixing device (PAFD) and a spatial distance measuring assemblage (SDMA). The test method employs an innovative two-stage procedure associated with the SDMA to calculate the distances (K<sub>i</sub>) from the phone’s four corners to the SW. The phone’s position is adjusted using the PAFD until the four monitored K<sub>i</sub> values match the target K<sub>i</sub>. An app installed on the phone then measures crack widths on the CWCP. A standard experimental procedure was established to assess the accuracy of a preliminary Android app in measuring concrete crack widths, with results presented and discussed. This apparatus and method, grounded in their underlying physical meaning, can realistically simulate actual engineering conditions precisely and cost-effectively.
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issn 2673-4117
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher MDPI AG
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series Eng
spelling doaj-art-e5579e81f9eb43e5a230929fe76bf0742025-08-20T03:27:06ZengMDPI AGEng2673-41172025-06-016612210.3390/eng6060122A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack WidthsChyuan-Hwan Jeng0Min Chao1Jian-Hung Chen2Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 545301, TaiwanDepartment of Civil Engineering and Geomatics, Cheng Shiu University, Kaohsiung 833301, TaiwanDepartment of Information Management, National Chi Nan University, Nantou 545301, TaiwanThis paper presents a standardized apparatus and method for testing the accuracy of mobile phone apps designed to measure concrete crack widths. The apparatus comprises a standardized crack-width calibration plate (CWCP) and a simulated wall (SW), along with a pose adjusting and fixing device (PAFD) and a spatial distance measuring assemblage (SDMA). The test method employs an innovative two-stage procedure associated with the SDMA to calculate the distances (K<sub>i</sub>) from the phone’s four corners to the SW. The phone’s position is adjusted using the PAFD until the four monitored K<sub>i</sub> values match the target K<sub>i</sub>. An app installed on the phone then measures crack widths on the CWCP. A standard experimental procedure was established to assess the accuracy of a preliminary Android app in measuring concrete crack widths, with results presented and discussed. This apparatus and method, grounded in their underlying physical meaning, can realistically simulate actual engineering conditions precisely and cost-effectively.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/6/122concrete surface crackcrack widthstandard test methodtest apparatusmobile phoneapp
spellingShingle Chyuan-Hwan Jeng
Min Chao
Jian-Hung Chen
A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths
Eng
concrete surface crack
crack width
standard test method
test apparatus
mobile phone
app
title A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths
title_full A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths
title_fullStr A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths
title_full_unstemmed A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths
title_short A Standard Test Apparatus and Method for Validating the Accuracy of Mobile Phone Apps in Measuring Concrete Crack Widths
title_sort standard test apparatus and method for validating the accuracy of mobile phone apps in measuring concrete crack widths
topic concrete surface crack
crack width
standard test method
test apparatus
mobile phone
app
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/6/122
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