Control of construction vibrations with an autonomous crack comparometer

Concern over construction vibration-induced craclcing has led to development of a new approach to vibration monitoring, an autonomaus crack comparometer (ACC). This paper describes sensor performance and chronicles the first steps in the development of this concept, illustrated in Figure 1. A single sensor measures both weather-induced micrometer changes in crack width and those produced by habitation and ground motion-induced vibration. This comparison is displayed in real time via the Internet without human interaction. Measurements reported herein show that weather-induced response of cracks is greater than that caused by presently allowable construction-induced vibration. Graphie display through the…