Force sensor system for structural health monitoring using passive RFID tags for structural health monitoring

For this study, we developed a contactless loading sensor system that can measure the internal loading of an object structure through several covering materials for the purpose of structural health monitoring. The developed system can be inserted into objects without a battery because the system consists of passive RFID for data communication and a power supply. The system uses little electric power because the power supply with RFID is generally very low. We propose an architecture by which two RFID tags are used in the system. The functions of the tags are separated for communication and for the power supply as a circuit design contraption to solve the problem. First, we explain how the developed system is useful in an actual environment and introduce details of the developed sensor system. Second, the sensor system performance is evaluated through comparison of calculated results and experimental results. Based on those evaluations, the practical utility for structural health monitoring of the system is described.