Research Lab of Professor Ansari

Welcome to our laboratory. Here we are involved in some very interesting work. Our specialty is in structural health monitoring. We build fiber optic sensors and then install them in bridges, dams, buildings, and tunnels. Our capabilities are unique since we are structural engineers with expertise in fiber optic sensors. We build the sensors as well as the interrogation units. These sensors are tested in our structural testing facility for validation and mock up experiments prior to field installations in bridges and other types of structures. Because of our special capabilities our sensors withstand the harsh construction environment and yet capable of measuring the specific parameters they were designed to monitor.

We also perform nondestructive tests (NDT) using acoustical as well as optical methods including ultrasonics, acoustic emissions, stress wave techniques, resonant frequency, and laser holography. NDT in our laboratory is primarily used for investigation into the quality and condition of concrete pavements and bridge decks during the construction and or their service lives.

As an academic entity, the most important product of our laboratory is our students. My students will all develop the unique expertise in sensors, NDT, and structural health monitoring by the time of their graduation.

You may click on the image below and watch the video from one of our recent projects. For this particular project, we built ruggedized surface adhered fiber optic displacement sensors to monitor the curvature of a reinforced concrete column subjected to seismic events as large as 1.65 times the magnitude of Northridge (Rinaldi) earthquake in California . Our sensors measured the dynamic response and provided the frequency response history, a very useful tool for post hazard evaluation of bridges in seismic zones. This particular test was performed at the University of Nevada , Reno in May 17-18, 2005 . We were contracted to manufacture, install and monitor the specialized seismic fiber optic sensors to withstand loadings of the magnitudes described above.

Information about our students and other research activities can be found by using the following the link: Smart Sensors & NDT Laboratory



Typical fiber optic sensors results (powerpoint presentation)