Blueprint: Sacrificial Crack-and-Strain Witness Strip — Build Specification
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Build specification for a passive sacrificial crack-and-strain witness strip for small bridges and culverts: a glass-epoxy strip with a 100 mm free gauge carrying eight graded sacrificial ligaments that break in fixed order and uncover high-contrast stripes, plus an identical reference strip for temperature comparison. DESIGN BLUEPRINT - SIMULATED, NOT MEASURED - NOT BUILT, NOT LOAD-TESTED. All performance numbers are from the source paper: trigger thresholds 0.20 to 1.25 mm in steps of 0.15 mm (2,000 to 12,500 microstrain), reading uncertainty plus/minus 0.075 mm, probability of a correct level 0.987 or better at a band centre, worst-case temperature-driven apparent opening 0.0235 mm against a first threshold of 0.20 mm (margin factor 8.51, residual 0.00705 mm with the reference strip), governing computed service life 8.63 years with replacement capped at 5.0 years, parts cost USD 9.45 per crossing point.
Author: Aldred, William Alexander
Language: English
Subfield: Civil and Structural Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7225742982
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: