Energy Harvesting for Self-Powered Sensors for Smart Transportation Infrastructures

In this research project, an Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting System (EMEHS) is developed for harvesting the kinetic energy of ambient and traffic-induced vibrations and carry out a detailed feasibility study and impacts of such system for application on transportation infrastructures. The proposed EMEHS utilizes the innovative concept of creating array of large number of small permanent magnets through certain optimization criteria to achieve strong and focused magnetic field in a particular orientation. When these magnets are attached to a flexible sub-system and placed close to the copper coil, ambient and traffic-induced vibration of the sub-system induces eddy current in copper the coil which can be used to power sensors. The mass and stiffness of the sub-system are adjusted such that a low-frequency vibration due to the traffic load can effectively induce the vibration of the sub-system, and thereby increasing the output voltage. This vibration is further amplified by tuning the frequency of the sub-system to resonance condition. The key innovation of the proposed research, as compared to other energy harvesters, is the optimization of array of permanent magnets for achieving a high electric power by developing an accurate analytical model for the magnetic interaction between the permanent magnets and the copper coil in the proposed EMEH. A proof-of-concept prototype of the proposed EMEH has also been designed and fabricated for the laboratory characterization testing, and field testing on a real highway bridge subjected to daily traffic vibration in New York

Feasibility of using a high-power electromagnetic energy harvester to power structural health monitoring sensors and systems in transportation infrastructures

This paper investigates the feasibility of an electromagnetism energy harvester (EMEH) for scavenging electric energy from transportation infrastructures and powering of conventional sensors used for their structural health monitoring. The proposed EMEH consists of two stationary layers of three cuboidal permanent magnets (PMs), a rectangular thick aircore copper coil (COIL) attached to the free end of a flexible cantilever beam whose fixed end is firmly attached to the highway bridge oscillating in the vertical motion due to passing traffic. The proposed EMEH utilizes the concept of creating an alternating array of permanent magnets to achieve strong and focused magnetic field in a particular orientation. When the COIL is attached to the cantilever beam and is placed close to the PMs, ambient and traffic induced vibration of the cantilever beam induces eddy current in the COIL. The tip mass and stiffness of the cantilever beam are adjusted such that a low-frequency vibration due to the passing traffic can effectively induce the vibration of the cantilever beam. This vibration is further amplified by tuning the frequency of the cantilever beam and its tip mass to resonance frequency of the highway bridge. The numerical results show that the proposed EMEH is capable of producing an average electrical power more than 1 W at the resonance frequency 4 Hz over a time period of 1 second that alone is more than enough to power conventional wireless sensors

Development of An Analytical Method for Design of Electromagnetic Energy Harvesters with Planar Magnetic Arrays

In this paper, an analytical method is proposed for the modeling of electromagnetic energy harvesters (EMEH) with planar arrays of permanent magnets. It is shown that the proposed method can accurately simulate the generation of electrical power in an EMEH from the vibration of a bridge subjected to traffic loading. The EMEH consists of two parallel planar arrays of 5 by 5 small cubic permanent magnets (PMs) that are firmly attached to a solid aluminum base plate, and a thick rectangular copper coil that is connected to the base plate through a set of four springs. The coil can move relative to the two magnetic arrays when the base plate is subjected to an external excitation caused by the vehicles passing over the bridge. The proposed analytical model is used to formulize the magnetic interaction between the magnetic arrays and the moving coil and the electromechanical coupling between both the electrical and mechanical domains of the EMEH. A finite element model is developed to verify the accuracy of the proposed analytical model to compute the magnetic force acting on the coil. The analytical model is then used to conduct a parametric study on the magnetic arrays to optimize the arrangement of the PM poles, thereby maximize the electrical power outputted from the EMEH. The results of parametric analysis using the proposed analytical method show that the EMEH, under the resonant condition, can deliver an average electrical power as large as 500 mW when the PM poles are arranged alternately along the direction of vibration for a peak base acceleration of 0.1 g. A proof-of-concept prototype of the EMEH is fabricated to test its performance for a given arrangement of PMs subjected to vibration in both the lab and field environments. View Full-Tex

Dynamic Characterization of the Doremus Avenue Bridge Substructure

Dynamic properties of the drilled shaft foundations supporting Doremus Avenue Bridge in Newark, New Jersey were determined by forced vibration testing. Doremus Avenue Bridge has been selected for instrumentation, testing and monitoring because it is first bridge in New Jersey designed according to LRFD specification. The main objectives of the substructure testing at Doremus Avenue Bridge were: (a) site evaluation with respect to the dynamic soil properties, and, (b) shaft evaluation for the purpose of definition of their dynamic stiffness. The site characterization entailed crosshole testing for the purpose of evaluation of the shear modulus profile. The drilled shaft impedance evaluation was done through forced excitation using an electromagnetic shaker. The response of the tested shaft, as well as the response of adjacent shafts, was measured for the purpose of evaluation of the shaft interaction. To gain a better insight into the shaft dynamics, one of the shafts was instrumented with five triaxial geophones distributed along the full length of the shaft. The scope and results of the site characterization, shaft impedance and shaft interaction evaluation are presented

Field Application of a High-Power Density Electromagnetic Energy Harvester to Power Wireless Sensors in Transportation Infrastructures

Finding an efficient source of energy has always been a big challenge for humans on Earth. Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, have traditionally been considered as major sources of energy. These energy sources are not only nonrenewable but are also harmful to our health and environment. A large portion of this energy is consumed by vehicles moving daily in big cities, causing significant pollution of the environment. However, the motion of vehicles through the transportation infrastructures can also be a significant source of kinetic energy, which can be harvested to power transportation system components, such as sensors, street lights, signals,etc., thereby reducing some dependence on fossil fuel-derived energy

Performance Measures to Assess Resiliency and Efficiency of Transit Systems

Transit agencies are interested in assessing the short-, mid-, and long-term performance of infrastructure with the objective of enhancing resiliency and efficiency. This report addresses three distinct aspects of New Jersey’s Transit System: 1) resiliency of bridge infrastructure, 2) resiliency of public transit systems, and 3) efficiency of transit systems with an emphasis on paratransit service. This project proposed a conceptual framework to assess the performance and resiliency for bridge structures in a transit network before and after disasters utilizing structural health monitoring (SHM), finite element (FE) modeling and remote sensing using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR). The public transit systems in NY/NJ were analyzed based on their vulnerability, resiliency, and efficiency in recovery following a major natural disaster

Implementation and Effectiveness of Autonomous Enforcement of OW Trucks in an Urban Infrastructure Environment

USDOT 69A3551747124In this study, the team presented the effort to summarize different WIM standards, develop the calibration procedure for the A-WIM system, and implement the calibration procedure to prove that the A-WIM system is capable of complying with ASTM E1318-09 Type III accuracy. Three prevailing WIM standards were compiled and compared, ASTM E1318-09, COST 323, and OIML R134-1. At least three trucks are required for an excessive number of calibration/optimization tests to meet the accuracy and compliance level and the Type-Approval test requirement of the ASTM E1318-09. The calibration and optimization tests provided the accuracy and compliance required in ASTM E1318-09 even though the pavement conditions did not meet the ASTM E1318-09 requirement. Based on the preliminary analysis of the change in the number of trucks after the enforcement, direct enforcement would reduce the number of overweight trucks by up to 76.9% for > 10% overweight trucks. More in-depth study would be required to evaluate the efficiency of direct enforcement

Integration and Operation of an Advanced Weigh-in-Motion (A-WIM) System for Autonomous Enforcement of Overweight Trucks

69A3551747119The ultimate objective of this project is to assist and support the NYCDOT in establishing the legislation to operate the autonomous OW enforcement system and extend the service life of the BQE corridor. This project evaluates the effectiveness of the implemented enforcement system. The report first presents the work on the existing advanced weight-in-motion system (A-WIM) and proposed new A-WIM system, as well as the automated license plate recognition (ALPR) system. A new structural health monitoring (SHM) system was also implemented in the testbed to evaluate the responses of structures under the traffic. Then evaluations of the multiple systems in the testbed are presented by presenting the results of accuracy of different weighing sensors, and practices of automated enforcement. Lastly, reliability-based live load factors for bridge load rating are developed