Multi-Monostatic Interferometric Radar with Radar Link for Bridge Monitoring

In recent years, interferometric radars have been extensively used as sensors for static and dynamic monitoring of bridges. Generally speaking, a radar can only detect the displacement component along its view direction. As the movement of a real bridge or a large structure can be rather complex, this limitation can be a significant drawback in engineering practice. In order to overcome this limitation, in this article, a multi-monostatic interferometric radar with radio link is proposed. This radar is able to detect a second component of displacement using a transponder. The transponder is connected to the radar through a radio link. The radio link allows the installation of the transponder far away from the radar, and even in the opposite direction. The equipment is based on a MIMO radar, two transceivers for the radio link, and a transponder. The transceivers and the transponder are essentially two antennas and an amplifier system. The equipment is experimentally tested in controlled scenarios and in the case study of Indiano Bridge, Florence, Italy.