Sensor Collar Structure for Accessible Shear Force Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor arrangements face challenges in accurately and reliably measuring shear forces at the interface between an attachment part and a substrate, as this position is often inaccessible and subjected to unfavorable environmental conditions, making it difficult to obtain valuable and robust measurements.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement featuring a sensor collar with a sensor sleeve inserted into an anchor hole and a sensor flange that abuts the anchor hole mouth, allowing stress transfer from the sensor sleeve to the sensor flange for easy and reliable shear force measurement, which can also measure tensile forces with multiple sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are placed at the interface between attachment part and substrate to measure shear forces, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation and reliability deteriorate due to inaccessibility and unfavorable environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor collar acts as an intermediary component that transfers shear forces from the difficult-to-access anchor interface to an easily accessible location on the attachment part. The collar is fixed to the anchor rod and transmits shear loads through its structure to the attachment part surface, where sensors can be conveniently mounted without being exposed to the harsh conditions at the substrate interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The measurement location is shifted from the radial-difficult interface zone to the axial-surface zone of the attachment part. By positioning sensors on the outer surface of the attachment part rather than at the anchor-substrate interface, the system moves the measurement point to a different spatial dimension that is easily accessible while still capturing shear force information through the collar's load transmission.
2Measurement precision
If sensors are placed at the interface between attachment part and substrate, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability worsens due to unfavorable environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor collar serves as a protective intermediary that isolates sensors from the harsh environmental conditions at the anchor-substrate interface. By transmitting mechanical shear loads to a protected location on the attachment part surface, the collar shields sensors from exposure to concrete dust, moisture, and other unfavorable conditions that would compromise their reliability.
3Ease of operation
If a sensor collar with stress transfer mechanism is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor collar performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a load transmission element for shear forces, serves as a mounting structure for sensors, and provides mechanical coupling between the anchor rod and attachment part. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar integrates the load transmission mechanism and sensor mounting structure into a single unified component. By combining these functions in one piece rather than using separate elements, the design simplifies the overall device structure while still enabling easy sensor installation on the attachment part surface.
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 robust measurement of shear stress between a substrate and an anchored attachment part, with the ability to be retrofitted or included in new anchors, providing versatile and efficient data acquisition for both shear and tensile force measurements.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor flange and the sensor sleeve are fixedly connected. As a consequence, stress information picked up by the sensor sleeve can propagate to the sensor flange
Implementation Method 2
shear impact on the sensor sleeve can lead to a deformation of the sensor flange, e.g. a previously circular sensor flange transforms to an elliptical shape
Data Source
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Figure 2~3
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor arrangement comprising a sensor collar, wherein the sensor collar comprises a sensor sleeve for being inserted into an anchor hole, and wherein the sensor collar comprises a sensor flange, which is fixedly connected to the sensor sleeve, and which radially protrudes from the sensor sleeve, for abutting on the mouth of the anchor hole, wherein a through hole, for accommodating an anchor rod anchored in the anchor hole, extends through the sensor sleeve and through the sensor flange, and at least one sensor for determining at least one physical quantity of the sensor flange. The invention furthermore relates to anchors and fastener arrangements comprising such sensor collars.