Infrastructure projects rely on Interfaceforce
From dams to roads to bridges, the infrastructure industry is the backbone of our society, and the need for sensor technologies used in the development and monitoring of these structures will never go away. According to Forbes, the global infrastructure market is worth $3,6 billion. ReasearchandMarkets.com reports that one of the largest infrastructure subsectors, global construction, recorded a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9% from 2020 to 2021, with no growth slowing. One of the factors accelerating growth is accurate and reliable testing and measurement equipment necessary to ensure durability, quality and safety in all infrastructure projects.
The challenge
The safety and reliability of the infrastructure is the most important factor in the design, development and manufacture of products in the industry. Buildings, bridges, dams and other structures are expected to last over time and this makes it essential to design these structures to near perfection. Accurate and trustworthy equipment used for testing and actual construction is where interface plays a crucial role. The enormous amount of design, engineering and quality control that goes into a suspension bridge requires testing before and after construction. Not only must it be built with extreme precision, but it must also be constantly monitored to ensure its safety, especially because infrastructure projects are exposed to extreme weather conditions. Interface is a preferred supplier for the infrastructure industry. Our engineers have developed products used for civil infrastructure such as: E.g. for monitoring structures, vibrations, load-bearing capacity tests, tunnels, bridges and road construction.
Interface solutions
We offer a wide range of Load cells, force measuring bolts and shackles, Measuring devices, multi-axis sensors and Torque transducers that are the first choice for infrastructure projects and precision testing where quality is important. Our sensor solutions are widely used to measure related hardware for industrial products and structures.
The types of infrastructure projects for which Interface has provided measurement solutions include transportation systems, communication structures, water and electricity facilities, as well as numerous inventions used to build, support and maintain.
The range of projects is wide, so below we highlight a few that highlight our capabilities in terms of accuracy, quality and reliability in the design, testing, construction and assessment of current and limits for safety requirements.
Monitoring of turbine generators for hydroelectric power plants
A customer needed monitoring and detection of turbine generators at their riverside hydroelectric power plant. Interface's solution was to use the T2 Ultra Precision Shaft Style Torque Transducer and attach it to the turbine generator with the Interface Torque Transducer Couplings. As water from the river pushes through the penstock to the outlet, it moves the turbine blades, producing electricity via the generator shaft. Torsion measurements can be graphed and used with the 9850 Torque Transducer and Load Cell Indicator to detect unusual fluctuations and vibrations. This solution allowed the customer to monitor, graph and log the turbine generator torque measurements.
Overload control for lifting platforms
A lift manufacturer wanted to test its self-propelled lift to ensure it could handle heavy loads in use and work at different angles. The aim was to prevent accidents if the lift was overloaded in order to improve safety. Interface suggested adding a 3A160 3-axis load cell to the bottom of the bucket. The 3A160 3-Axis Load Cell delivers highly accurate results that can be viewed in real time with the 920i programmable weight display and controller. The company was able to use these products to test their aerial work platforms and found that they could be operated safely when maximum capacity was reached.
Monitoring a concrete dam during floods
A customer wanted to be notified automatically when a concrete dam reaches a high level of flooding. Interface suggested using WMC miniature stainless steel load cells with multiple WTS-AM-1E Wireless Acquisition Modules connected to the dam. The WMC products are small and perfect for measuring tension and compression. Multiple WMCs were installed around the arch of the dam so that during flooding, the WMC data was transmitted via one of our wireless telemetry systems.