Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is expected to play a predominant role in the management of the transport infrastructure. Yet, SHM techniques continue to rely on point-based, as opposed to spatial, sensing requiring a dense network of these point-sensors increasing considerably the monitoring cost. Additionally, commercially available, strain sensors cannot measure strains beyond 1% to 2% and, thus, are not able to provide an alarm for an imminent catastrophe. SENSKIN aims to: (a) develop a dielectric-elastomer and micro-electronics-based skin-like sensing solution for the structural monitoring of the transport infrastructure that will offer spatial sensing of reversible (repeated) strains in the range of 0.012% to more than 10%, that requires little power to operate, is easy to install on an irregular surface, is low cost compared to existing sensors, allows simple signal processing and includes the ability of self-monitoring and self-reporting. (b) use the new and emerging technology of Delay Tolerant Network to secure that strain measurements acquired through the 'sensing skin' will reach the base station even under extreme environmental conditions and natural disaster events such as, high winds or an earthquake, where some communication networks could become inoperable. (c) develop a Decision-Support-System for proactive condition-based structural intervention under operating loads and intervention after extreme events. It will be based on an accurate structural assessment based on input from the strain sensors in (a) above and will examine the life-cycle economic, social and environmental implications of the feasible rehabilitation options and the resilience of the infrastructure to future changes in traffic demand that these options offer. (d) implement the above in the case of bridges and test, refine, evaluate and benchmark the monitoring system (integrated a and b) and package (integrated a, b and c) on actual bridges.

This action will bring to market a unique product, RiserSure™, for assessing the condition of flexible riser pipes widely used in offshore oil and gas production. Riser failure is increasing and is costly (€3M per day from lost production alone). It damages the environment and creates the potential for major incidents. The Gulf of Mexico disaster in 2010 prompted very recent new safety legislation in the US and Europe (2015 US offshore safety drilling rule, 2013 EU Offshore Safety Directive). This is driving the uptake of non-destructive testing (NDT) to monitor riser condition. Current techniques cannot reliably or efficiently assess flexible riser condition to provide advance warning of failure. Radiography is ideal as it penetrates all the layers in the pipe. However, current systems are designed for on-shore applications, not sub-sea. The objective of this action is to take to market RiserSure™, which uses a novel subsea digital radiography detector. We will take the technology from TRL6 to TRL9 by optimising it for operation on flexible risers and adapting it to the needs of our customers – the NDT service providers and asset operators. Sub-sea field trials will demonstrate customer benefits. Within this 33 month project we will complete commercial and manufacturing preparations for product launch and lay the foundations for growth. RiserSure™ will reduce the environmental impact and improve the safety of offshore production. It will improve the profitability of operators by reducing leaks and downtime, saving the industry €270M over 5 years. It will develop new revenues of €90M with a profit of €50M cumulative within 5 years of the end of the action; creating 139 new jobs for the SME led the consortium and an ROI of 148:1. Our industry-led consortium is requesting an EU contribution of €2,521,892 reflecting the costly nature of offshore testing, and our ambitious plans to achieve successful and rapid commercialisation of RiserSure™.