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MATERIAL MATTERS Paint uses nanotechnology to monitor large structures
cant damage through monitoring and assessment. ¹
Drawing on nanotechnology to detect movement in large structures, researchers at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow, United Kingdom) have developed an in- novative low-cost "smart" paint that can detect microscopic faults in wind tur- bines, mines, and bridges before struc- tural damage occurs. The paint is formed ][QVO Æa I[P I ZMKaKTML _I[\M XZWL]K\ produced during coal combustion, and highly aligned carbon nanotubes. When mixed, the environmentally friendly paint has a cement-like property that makes it particularly useful in harsh environments. )KKWZLQVO \W 5WPIUML ;IIÅ [MVQWZ
lecturer with the university's Department of Civil Engineering and one of the paint's developers, the paint's monitoring process involves a wireless sensor net- work. The paint is interfaced with wire-
20 MATERIALS PERFORMANCE March 2012
less communication nodes with power harvesting and warning capabilities to remotely detect any unseen damage such as microcracks in a wind turbine concrete foundation or other coated structures. The paint is sprayed onto a surface, with electrodes attached to detect structural damage long before failure occurs. The researchers comment that tradi-
tional methods of assessing large struc- tures can be complex, time consuming, and use expensive instrumentation. With Æa I[P ][ML I[ \PM XIQV\¼[ UIQV UI\MZQIT it costs just 1% of other widely used in- spection methods. Additionally, the re- searchers note, current assessment tech- VWTWOa Q[ ZM[\ZQK\ML \W TWWSQVO I\ [XMKQÅK areas of a structure at any given time. The smart paint covers the entire structure, UI`QUQbQVO \PM IJQTQ\a \W XZM^MV\ [QOVQÅ-
cant development and is one that has possibly been overlooked as a viable solu- tion because research tends to focus on high-tech options that look to eliminate human control. Our research shows that by maintaining the human element, the costs can be vastly reduced without an QUXIK\ WV MNNMK\Q^MVM[[ º [Ia[ ;IIÅ 0M adds that the development of this smart paint technology could have far-reaching implications for the way large structures all over the world are monitored for safety. There are no limitations as to where the paint can be used and the low- KW[\ VI\]ZM OQ^M[ Q\ I [QOVQÅKIV\ IL^IV\IOM over the current options available in the industry. Other advantages of the smart paint technology are that no expertise is required to produce and apply the paint and the monitoring is straightforward. A prototype has been developed and tests at the university have shown the paint to be highly effective. The re- searchers are looking to demonstrate its effectiveness on a large structure and are working toward conducting additional tests in Glasgow in the near future. The research was initiated by David McGahon as part of his Ph.D. project at Strathclyde. Source: University of Strathclyde, www. strath.ac.uk.
—K.R. Larsen
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NACE International, Vol. 51, No. 3