Abstract: This paper provides a brief review of the methodological composition of Risk Based Inspection (RBI) and the application of the methodology for safeguarding hull integrity of offshore floating structures, with fatigue as primary degradation mechanism. The work has a distinct focus on the opportunities RBI has to offer in combination with Structural Health Monitoring. In order to provide a clear picture of the state of the art knowledge, the current practices and regulations are briefly discussed after which the RBI methodology is introduced, the differences in guidelines and applications discussed and an 8-step approach is proposed. Subsequently, the methodology is outlined as an instrument for determining the residual fatigue life and the inspection scope and –schedule and the methodological embedding within an Advisory Hull Monitoring System is discussed and proposed.
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Validation of a new method for ultrasonic structural health monitoring using advanced signal analysis. This paper presents the results of research on a new method for the monitoring of structural health using ultrasound. Conventional ultrasonic methods use the damping of the first arrival of the echo to determine imperfections, whereas this method uses the total complex echo, which has been subjected to multiple scattering and deflections within the tested material. It is experimentally demonstrated that the method works for health monitoring of a composite flat plate. A reference signal of an undamaged plate was recorded, which was correlated with recorded control signals of a damaged and a doubly damaged plate. To quantify this correlation the parameter fidelity was used. As the control signals are correlated with the reference signal the correlation is supposed to decrease as the plate is damaged and decrease further as the plate is doubly damaged.
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From the article: Abstract—By using agent technology, a versatile and modular monitoring system can be built. In this paper, such a multiagentbased monitoring system will be described. The system can be trained to detect several conditions in combination and react accordingly. Because of the distributed nature of the system, the concept can be used in many situations, especially when combinations of different sensor inputs are used. Another advantage of the approach presented in this paper is the fact that every monitoring system can be adapted to specific situations. As a case-study, a health monitoring system will be presented.
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Abstract: The key challenge of managing Floating Production Storage and Offloading assets (FPSOs) for offshore hydrocarbon production lies in maximizing the economic value and productivity, while minimizing the Total Cost of Ownership and operational risk. This is a comprehensive task, considering the increasing demands of performance contracting, (down)time reduction, safety and sustainability while coping with high levels of phenomenological complexity and relatively low product maturity due to the limited amount of units deployed in varying operating conditions. Presently, design, construction and operational practices are largely influenced by high-cycle fatigue as a primary degradation parameter. Empirical (inspection) practices are deployed as the key instrument to identify and mitigate system anomalies and unanticipated defects, inherently a reactive measure. This paper describes a paradigm-shift from predominant singular methods into a more holistic and pro-active system approach to safeguard structural longevity. This is done through a short review of several synergetic Joint Industry Projects (JIP’s) from different angles of incidence on enhanced design and operations through coherent a-priori fatigue prediction and posteriori anomaly detection and -monitoring.
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In order to guarantee structural integrity of marine structures in an effective way, operators of these structures seek an affordable, simple and robust system for monitoring detected cracks. Such systems are not yet available and the authors took a challenge to research a possibility of developing such a system. The paper describes the initial research steps made. In the first place, this includes reviewing conventional and recent methods for sensing and monitoring fatigue cracks and discussing their applicability for marine structures. A special attention is given to the promising but still developing new sensing techniques. In the second place, wireless network systems are reviewed because they form an attractive component of the desired system. The authors conclude that it is feasible to develop the monitoring system for detected cracks in marine structures and elaborate on implications of availability of such a system on risk based inspections and structural health monitoring systems
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In case of induced seismicity, expectations from a structural monitoring system are different than in the case of natural seismicity. In this paper, monitoring results of a historical building in Groningen (Netherlands) in case of induced seismicity has been presented. Results of the monitoring, particularities of the monitoring in case of induced earthquakes, as well as the usefulness and need of various monitoring systems for similar cases are discussed. Weak soil properties dominate the structural response in the region; thus, the ground water monitoring as well as the interaction of soil movements with the structural response has also been scrutinized. The proposed study could be effectively used to monitor historical structures subjected to induced seismicity and provide useful information to asset owners to classify the structural health condition of structures in their care.It was shown that the in-plane cracks at the building would normally not be expected in this structure during small induced earthquakes happening in Groningen. One explanation provided here is that the soil parameters, such as shrinking of water-sensitive soil layers, in combination with small earthquakes, may cause settlements. The soil effects may superimpose with the earthquake effects eventually causing small cracks and damage.
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Introduction The Integrated Recovery Scales (IRS) was developed by the Dutch National Expertise board for routine outcome monitoring with severe mental illnesses. This board aimed to develop a multidimensional recovery measure directed at 1. clinical recovery, 2. physical health, 3. social recovery (work, social contacts, independent living) and 4. existential, personal recovery. The measure had to be short, suited for routine outcome monitoring and present the perspective of both mental health professionals and service users with severe mental illnesses. All aspects are assessed over a period of the pas 6 months. Objectives The objective of this research is validation of the Integral Recovery Scales and to test the revelance for clinical practice and police evaluation. Methods The instrument was tested with 500 individuals with severe mental illnesses (80% individuals with a psychotic disorder), of whom 200 were followed up for 1 year. For the questions concerning clinical recovery, physical health and social recovery mental health care workers conducted semi structured interviews with people living with serious illnesses. The questions concerning personal health were self-rated. We analyzed interrater reliability, convergent and divergent validity and sensitivity to change. Results The instrument has a good validity and is easy to complete for service users and mental health care workers and appropriate for clinical and policy evaluation goals. Conclusions The Integrated Recovery Scales can be a useful instrument for a simple and meaningful routine outcome monitoring. Page: 121
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Quantifying measures of physical loading has been an essential part of performance monitoring within elite able-bodied sport, facilitated through advancing innovative technology. In wheelchair court sports (WCS) the inter-individual variability of physical impairments in the athletes increases the necessity for accurate load and performance measurements, while at the same time standard load monitoring methods (e.g. heart-rate) often fail in this group and dedicated WCS performance measurement methods are scarce. The objective of this review was to provide practitioners and researchers with an overview and recommendations to underpin the selection of suitable technologies for a variety of load and performance monitoring purposes specific to WCS. This review explored the different technologies that have been used for load and performance monitoring in WCS. During structured field testing, magnetic switch based devices, optical encoders and laser systems have all been used to monitor linear aspects of performance. However, movement in WCS is multidirectional, hence accelerations, decelerations and rotational performance and their impact on physiological responses and determination of skill level, is also of interest. Subsequently both for structured field testing as well as match-play and training, inertial measurement units mounted on wheels and frame have emerged as an accurate and practical option for quantifying linear and non-linear movements. In conclusion, each method has its place in load and performance measurement, yet inertial sensors seem most versatile and accurate. However, to add context to load and performance metrics, position-based acquisition devices such as automated image-based processing or local positioning systems are required.
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This paper describes the approach used to identify elderly people’s needs and attitudes towards applying ambient sensor systems for monitoring daily activities in the home. As elderly are typically unfamiliar with such ambient technology, interactive tools for explicating sensor monitoring –an interactive dollhouse and iPad applications for displaying live monitored sensor activity data– were developed and used for this study. Furthermore, four studies conducted by occupational therapists with more than 60 elderly participants –including questionnaires (n=41), interviews (n=6), user sessions (n=14) and field studies (n=2)– were conducted. The experiences from these studies suggest that this approach helped to democratically engage the elderly as end-user and identify acceptance issues.
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Purpose eHealth projects in the Netherlands have various backgrounds. First, the number of persons aged 65 and over will have increased by 400,000 between 2008 and 20131. Over the same period, the potential workforce will have decreased from 4.2 persons at present to 3.6 persons for each 65 plus. Second, there is a shift from institutional care to care provided at home. The Dutch government promotes healthy behaviour and emphasises the importance of disease prevention2. People prefer to continue living in the community, even when their health is declining. Finally, Dutch policies stimulate the use of e-health in order to (i) support ageing-in-place (AiP), (ii) to enhance the quality of life of older adults, and (iii) to reduce the workload of professional carers. Method Vilans’ Centre of Excellence for Long-Term Care3 database of 85 projects was analyzed. The projects included in the database date from 2004 and after. Some of these projects have been completed and terminated; other projects are still ongoing. Although the database includes the majority of the projects, a complete coverage of all projects in The Netherlands is not guaranteed. To analyse the barriers, all projects were sorted according to one type of e-Health project (videoconferencing, activity monitoring, other types). In this study, basic, functional and economic values from the Model of Integrated Building Design4 were considered as relevant stakeholder values deemed necessary for a successful implementation. Results & Discussion Most projects in the database use e-Health for the support of older adults with (48 projects) or without (35 projects) care needs. In addition, dementia (19 projects), COPD and diabetes (both 11 projects) are the three health conditions that e-Health applications are most often used for. A major barrier for implementation is that only 11 out the 85 projects have a social business case. Another barrier is that requirements to building construction, building systems, e-Health applications or (building) services are hardly ever considered in the projects that also aim to support ageing-in-place. There are many stakeholders involved in the e-Health projects, and not all of the needs of these stakeholders are met in the design and implementation of the accompanying technologies. The execution of these projects seems to consist merely of an analysis of the technological applications with emphasis on the needs of the care recipient and other primary users. To date, e-Health projects in The Netherlands have not been fully implemented5. As well as a failure to include stakeholder needs and accounting for potential barriers, another reason may be that use of e-Health in care will imply innovating care protocols. Care provision shifting from a medical disease oriented model towards a care and wellbeing model. A structural exchange of knowledge and experience in functionalities and user needs will be necessary to take away barriers to a large-scale and successful implementation of e-Health in The Netherlands.
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