Image analysis for monitoring of crack growth in hydropower concrete structures

A digital image analysis technique for crack monitoring using a standard web-camera has been further developed to acquire continuous data sets on crack development in concrete dams. The method is based on an existing robust and straightforward non-contact method for experimental deformation analysis. It allows for the measurement of suspected serious cracks, identified from inspections, through a sequence of images captured at intervals. The crack opening displacements at the surface of investigated objects are obtained by an algorithm that makes it possible to automatically track the motions of discrete markers painted on the object surface markers and compute their centre of mass in a sequence of images. The data acquisition process is straightforward and is well suited for this type of environment. Results from laboratory experiments and a field-test on a commuter bridge in Sweden are presented. The study implies that the technique can be useful for hydropower concrete structure applications.