# US 2019/0316979 A1 · An integrated system and method for measuring deformations and/or stresses in one-dimensional elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0316979 A1 - Document ID: US20190316979A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/462,783 - Filed: 2017-11-21 - Published: 2019-10-17 - Earliest claimed: 2016-11-22 - Assignees: Politecnico Di Torino - Applicants: Politecnico Di Torino - Inventors: Francesco TONDOLO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190316979A1 ## CPC - G01L 1/02: by hydraulic or pneumatic means - G01L 9/0045: {Diaphragm associated with a buried cavity} - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) ## Abstract An integrated measuring system (9) comprises a structural element (10) for building constructions, having an internal cavity (14), hermetically closed to contain a compressible fluid (16), and a measuring system (12) for measuring stresses and/or deformations on the structural element (10), measuring system (12) whereby it is possible to measure the pressure and temperature of the fluid (16) so as to measure a change in fluid pressure and determine a variation of the volume of the cavity (14) resulting from an action (F) imparted to the structural element (10). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Integrated measuring system (9), comprising: a structural element (10), adapted to be incorporated in a building construction and elongated in a longitudinal direction, said structural element (10) having an internal cavity (14) hermetically closed or closable by means of closure means (20), said internal cavity (14) being filled with a compressible fluid (16); a measurement system (12), adapted to measure deformations and/or stresses on the structural element (10) along said longitudinal direction, the system comprising a pressure measuring device (18) in contact with the fluid in the internal cavity (14), said measurement system (12) further comprising a device for measuring the temperature of the fluid (16) and/or the temperature of the inner wall of the cavity (14), in such a way that the system is able to determine a volume variation of the cavity (14) by measuring a pressure and temperature variation of the fluid resulting from an action (F) imparted to the structural element (10), wherein the cavity (14) extends along a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to said longitudinal direction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A system according to claim 1, wherein the cavity (14) intersects a central longitudinal axis (11) of the structural element (10). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1, 2) A system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cavity (14) passes through the structural element (10). ### Claim 4 A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the compressible fluid (16) is a gas or a liquid/gas mixture. ### Claim 5 A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pressure measuring device (18) is immersed in the fluid (16). ### Claim 6 A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the closing means (20) are configured so as to allow the connection between the devices measuring pressure and/or temperature (18) with a power and/or data transfer system (22), adapted to power said devices (18) and/or to communicate the data collected within the cavity (14). ### Claim 7 A system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a radially outer projection (24) is associated to the structural element (10) and is placed at the cross-section of the structural element (10) on which the cavity (14) lies, said projection having a cross-section having an area substantially equivalent to the area of the cross-section of said cavity (14). ### Claim 8 A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the structural element (10) is a metallic bar for reinforced concrete. ### Claim 9 Method for measuring deformations and/or stresses along a longitudinal direction of a structural element (10) elongated in the longitudinal direction, said structural element (10) being adapted to be incorporated in a building construction and being subjectable to an action F, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one cavity (14) internal to the structural element (10), oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular with respect to a central longitudinal axis (11) of the structural element (10); b) filling the cavity (14) with a compressible fluid (16) and sealing the cavity (14) by means of closing means (20); c) associating a measurement system (12) to the cavity (14), said measuring system (12) comprising a measuring device (18) of the pressure of the fluid (16), and a device for measuring the temperature of the fluid (16) and/or the temperature of the inner wall of the cavity (14); d) measuring the pressure and temperature variations of the fluid (16), determining a variation of volume of the cavity (14), and establishing a relationship between said volume variation and a longitudinal deformation of the structural element (10). ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A method according to claim 9, wherein step (b) is carried out by filling the cavity (14) with a gas or a gas/liquid mixture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9, 10) A method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the cavity (14) intersects a central longitudinal axis (11) of the structural element (10). ### Claim 12 (depends on 9, 10, 11) A method according to one of claims 9 to 11, comprising the step of determining a priori a relationship between temperature and deformation of a structural element (10) subject to design operative conditions, and calibrating the system converting the temperature and pressure variations of the fluid (16) to the longitudinal deformation and/or stress of the structural element (10), so as to exclude from the calculation the contribution of a temperature variation of the fluid. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12) A method according to one of claims 9 to 12, comprising the step of applying an additional radially outer projection (24) to the structural element (10), placing said projection (24) at the cross-section of said structural element (10) on which the cavity (14) lies in such a way as to restore the area of material missing due to the presence of the cavity (14). ### Claim 14 (depends on 9, 10, 11, 12, 13) A method according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the structural element (10) is a metallic bar for reinforced concrete. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) A structural element (10) adapted to be incorporated in building constructions, comprising a plurality of integrated measuring systems (9) obtainable according to any one of claims 1 to 8.