Nondestructive Testing of the Miter Gates Using Various Measurement Methods

Abstract

When any problems related to civil engineering structures appear, identifying the issue through the usage of only one measuring method is difficult. Therefore, comprehensive tests are required to identify the main source. The strains and displacement measurements, as well as modal identification, are widely used in the nondestructive testing of structures. However, measurements are usually carried out at several points and confirm or exclude only one of many potential causes of the problem. The main aim of this paper is to identify the causes of miter gates’ excessive vibration. The research includes displacement measurements using a tachometer and a laser scanner, acceleration measurements connected with modal analysis, and calculations with the finite element method (FEM) model. The numerical model underwent verification regarding test results. Particular attention was paid to evaluate the practical use of a laser scanner for diagnosing miter gates. Unlike classical methods, it measures many points. The analysis eliminated a number of potential causes of excessive vibration and highlighted the field of excessive deformation. The identified anomaly could be associated with bearings’ misalignment after closing the door. This construction part should be subjected to further research using classical methods. The laser scanning has been proven to be a method that can only generally present the deformation of the structure.

Keywords

• structural health monitoring
• nondestructive testing
• comprehensive measurement methods
• laser scanning
• modal analysis
• numerical model validation