Smart paint could slash costs of structural monitoring
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Current bridge monitoring methods are expensive and time consuming (Photo: Shutterstock)
Dr Mohamed Saafi and David McGahon have developed a smart paint that can detect microscopic faults in large structures
David McGahon applies the smart paint to a test structure
Article Summary
Current monitoring of large structures such as bridges, wind turbines and mines generally relies on time consuming visual inspections that use specialized instrumentation and equipment. Translation: it's expensive. But if damage can be detected before any structural damage occurs, maintenance bills can also be significantly reduced and safety increased. Researchers at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow are tackling the issue with a smart paint they claim not only detects microscopic faults before structural damage occurs, but does so at a cost of just one percent of current widely used inspection methods.
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