Reliably monitor the condition of infrastructure

Sensors measure load forces on prestressed concrete, bridges and wind turbines

Bridges, wind turbines and other highly stressed components such as tie rods must be monitored for loads, structural integrity and possible faults during construction and even more so during operation. This requires precise measuring and monitoring systems. burster präzisionsmesstechnik offers reliable measurement technology for monitoring forces, torques and structural variations to ensure a stable and efficient infrastructure.

Force measurement for bridge construction and monitoring

Traffic, wind, temperature fluctuations, road salt and many other influences cause bridges to age. Therefore, tension forces, settlements and material stresses must be precisely recorded during construction. In addition, continuous measurements during operation reveal structural variations or material fatigue at an early stage. Load cells and monitoring systems that enable both temporary load tests and permanent condition monitoring are necessary for this. On high-speed railway lines, for example, measuring the load conditions in the abutments of the structures enables safe operation. Although the force distribution in bridges can be reliably measured even under adverse conditions using a specially designed, robust model 8230 miniature sensor. It is resistant to strong weather fluctuations and is characterised by a particularly long-term stable and vibration-resistant design.

Monitoring tension forces on tie rods

Tie rods on structures or for rock stabilisation, e.g. in tunnels, must be constantly monitored for the transferred tension forces during installation and quickly readjusted if necessary. Large, hydraulically operated tools are used for this purpose, which require free access. This leaves little room for the measurement technology, which also has to be very robust in order to withstand the adverse construction site conditions. The 8438 miniature ring load cell corresponds to these requirements for simple, space-saving installation with a robust design. The disc-shaped sensor in the completely welded sensor body made of VA is very flat (8 to 25 mm), with a diameter of only 28 to 78 mm. It can be installed just as quickly as it can be removed again after completion of the work.

Wind turbines: Safe operation thanks to precise torque monitoring

Wind turbines, whether on land or at sea, are exposed to extreme forces. The torque on the rotor shaft in particular must be continuously monitored. Torque sensors are used here to detect the smallest variations in the drive train. An innovative wave power plant, which is used in offshore installations, also uses torque sensors from burster: a buoyancy body, which is braced to the seabed with three cables, is stimulated to move by shafts and transmits the mechanical energy to a generator via a cable. This is located in the tower of a wind turbine, protected from seawater. A model 8661 sensor is permanently mounted between two couplings and measures the trajectory of the floating body. The sensor offers high accuracy, stable mechanics and maintenance-free operation with bidirectional torque measurement. The high repeatability, even with fluctuations in the supply voltage, is ideal for harsh marine applications.

About burster

Whether individual measurement components or system solutions, burster mainly supplies users in mechanical and plant engineering, automation, automotive engineering with suppliers, electrical engineering, electronics and the chemical industry. The portfolio includes measuring and testing devices as well as standard sensors for mechanical and electrical measured variables, such as force, compression, torque and displacement sensors and milli and megohmmeters or resistance decades. Individual, customised OEM solutions are also possible, e.g. for many other industries and future markets such as medical technology, biotechnology and e-mobility. Our many years of experience in the construction of measuring devices and sensors always guarantees optimal solutions. Sensors, amplifier and transmitter modules, precision measuring devices and measuring systems for sensor signal processing are supplied to customers all over the world from the development and production site in Germany.