Portable Radar-Based Measurement System for Vibration Analysis of Large Infrastructures

We report on the development and validation of a portable and cost-effective radar-based vibration measurement system. Vibration analysis is a powerful tool for structural health monitoring of critical infrastructure subjected to stresses, like environmental factors, loads, and wear over time. Using non-contact sensors avoids sensor installation and enables cost and time-efficient vibration measurements. We present a portable sensor concept based on FMCW radar technology. The system was successfully validated on a high-precision calibration system.