Design and Application of a Construction-Operation Monitoring System for Spoke-Free Ferris Wheels

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Abstract
The construction and operation monitoring of a spoke-free Ferris wheel is challenging because of its novel shape and inherently complex environment. It necessitates an innovative monitoring system that can be used in both construction and operation stages because both the traditional and single monitoring system are not applicable to this structure at the same time. In this study, a practical construction-operation monitoring system for a spoke-free Ferris wheel was developed and applied to the White-wave River Ferris Wheel. In the proposed monitoring system, the overall design, architecture of the system, and the sensors and monitoring data-sharing contents at each stage of their implementations are discussed in detail. Finite element analysis was applied to determine the monitoring parameters and the sensor’s positions. Customized energy-efficient wireless sensor nodes were employed and data transmissions from the sensors to the remote monitoring servers were conducted through comprehensive communication (cable, wireless, and internet). The monitoring data during construction indicate that the removal of temporary support will cause significant changes to the stress and displacement of the structure. A synchronous and hierarchical removal scheme can effectively avoid such rapid changes. The data at the operation stage indicate that both the displacement at the top and the stress at the bottom parts of the White-wave River Ferris Wheel structure are sensitive to temperature changes. The influence of temperature on the structure stress can reach up to 41 MPa. Vibration data indicate that the fundamental frequency of the structure is low and that it has comparatively flexible bending stiffness. When the wind speed exceeds 15 m/s, the Ferris wheel must be stopped from further operation because the comfort level exceeds the reach of human beings. The measurement results demonstrate that the proposed monitoring system is capable of automatic and real-time monitoring.
Funding Information
  • Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR202QE247)
  • Doctoral Research Foundation of Shandong Jianzhu University (X19035Z)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR202QE247)
  • Doctoral Research Foundation of Shandong Jianzhu University (X19035Z)

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