Optimal Sensor Placement Method for Gantry Crane SHM System

The choice of the number and location of sensors in the structure is the foundation of cranes structural health monitoring, which has major influence on the monitoring results. This paper taking a gantry crane as a SHM research object, uses optimal sensor placement based on Finite Element Method, the stress concentration points could be drawn by the FEM calculation results. This method carry out dynamic load stress analysis for the structure with virtual prototype, which make up for the lack of static analysis; compared with the type test methods, not only reduce the test cost, but also more flexible, and break through the restrictions of all types of extreme conditions. This method makes the sensor data obtained more realistically reflects the crane structure condition; provides reliable data support for crane safety monitoring and safety evaluation. The promotion of this method will provide important technical support for the development of the crane SHM.