Application of radar technology to SHM of stay cables

The microwave interferometry has recently emerged as an innovative technology, suitable to the non-contact vibration measurement on large structures. The paper addresses the application of microwave remote sensing to the measurement of the vibration response in the stay-cables of cable-stayed bridges. The experimental tests clearly prove that the radar technique is especially promising in order to perform systematic dynamic assessment of stay-cables in a simple and quick way. In addition, the microwave interferometry exhibits various advantages, even when compared to other techniques of remote sensing, such as: (a) possibility of simultaneously measuring the dynamic response of all cables belonging to an array; (b) possibility of use also in case of fog or rain; (c) higher accuracy.