Centrifugal Force Angular Acceleration Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for measuring transient angular acceleration in civil engineering structures under dynamic loads like wind and earthquakes are primitive and prone to errors due to varying angular accelerations across positions, requiring complex and costly instruments that are not suitable for long-term monitoring in harsh environments.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus using dynamic centrifugal force measurement, comprising a solid ball, rigid block, elastic block, strain foil, and data acquisition module, converts centrifugal force into stress measurement on the strain foil to accurately calculate angular acceleration, allowing for real-time monitoring with low maintenance costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If angular rate gyroscope is used to measure dynamic angular acceleration, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical gyroscopes with a simple mechanical system consisting of a rotating mass, flexible element, and strain gauge. Instead of using angular momentum conservation principles in a gyroscope, the invention uses centrifugal force generation and elastic deformation measurement to achieve angular acceleration detection, thereby simplifying the device structure while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive strain gauges and simple mechanical components instead of expensive, maintenance-intensive gyroscopes. The measuring system uses readily available materials such as flexible beams, rotating masses, and strain gauges that are much cheaper and require minimal maintenance compared to precision gyroscopic instruments
2Duration of action of stationary object
If angular rate gyroscope is used for long-term monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but maintenance cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive, maintenance-free components such as strain gauges and simple mechanical parts that can operate reliably for long periods without service. The system avoids the maintenance-intensive gyroscopes, using instead robust components that are either disposable or require minimal upkeep, enabling economical long-term structural monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The measuring system is designed to be autonomous and self-sufficient for long-term operation. The strain gauges and mechanical components require no external calibration, power consumption is minimal, and the system can continuously monitor angular acceleration without human intervention or maintenance, making it suitable for prolonged deployment on civil engineering structures
3Device complexity
If linear acceleration measurement method is used to calculate angular acceleration, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to varying angular accelerations across positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the structure into segments by placing multiple measuring points at different locations. Each measuring point independently measures local angular acceleration using the centrifugal force method. This segmentation allows capture of spatial variations in angular acceleration across the structure, improving overall measurement accuracy while keeping each individual sensor simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the measuring device at multiple local positions on the structure, with each position providing locally accurate angular acceleration measurements. By distributing sensors throughout the structure rather than relying on a single reference point, the system captures the non-uniform angular acceleration distribution, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining simplicity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and long-term monitoring of structural angular acceleration with low maintenance, capable of rapidly obtaining dynamic instantaneous measurements in complex environments, unaffected by external conditions.
Implementation Method 1
when a structure is torsional, an apparatus with mass which rotates with the structure produces a centrifugal force effect
Implementation Method 2
uses a strain foil to realize dynamic monitoring by converting the centrifugal force into stress measurement on the strain foil
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for measuring a structural angular acceleration based on dynamic centrifugal force measurement belong to the technical field of angular acceleration measurement. The apparatus has a solid ball. The solid ball can move freely along the radial direction of the outer wall packaging hood. The elastic block is used as a stress base. A rod for lateral limit and connection is used for connecting the rigid block and a pulley and limiting the displacement of solid ball so that the solid ball can only move longitudinally along the apparatus. The rigid block can move freely due to the pulley. Measurement of a transient angular acceleration is converted into dynamic measurement of the centrifugal force of the solid ball. Through the above design, the dynamic angular acceleration of the structure caused by dynamic load can be relatively accurately calculated.