article · Scientific Reports
High-strength concrete is essential in modern construction, yet accurately tracking its deflection is critical to verify serviceability and numerical simulations. Terrestrial laser scanning offers a non-contact method to capture the deformation of reinforced concrete beams under static loading. Laboratory tests evaluated this technique against dial gauges, total stations, analytical calculations, and finite element models using ABAQUS and ANSYS. At a maximum load of 230 kilonewtons, terrestrial laser scanning recorded a mid-span deflection of 26.0 millimetres, matching closely with dial gauge readings of 26.3 millimetres and ABAQUS predictions of 26.1 millimetres, whereas ANSYS estimated 21.8 millimetres. The approach enables rapid, full-field mapping of structural changes without physical contact. Coupling laser scanning with finite element analysis validates numerical models reliably, establishing a strong foundation for future structural health monitoring and broader testing scenarios.
Large structures built with high-strength concrete require precise monitoring to detect weaknesses and ensure public safety. Traditional measuring devices require direct contact, which can be difficult or hazardous on active infrastructure. Using non-contact laser scanning allows engineers to capture full-surface structural movement from a distance, verifying whether computational engineering models accurately reflect real-world physical stresses.
The method targets structural health monitoring, quality assurance, and asset management for civil engineers and infrastructure maintenance teams. It provides an efficient framework to validate structural models and inspect concrete components. Currently applied and tested at laboratory scale under static four-point bending, the approach remains in an applied research stage that requires further testing across cyclic or moving load conditions before full commercial field deployment.
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High-strength concrete (HSC) is widely used in modern structures because of its superior mechanical performance; however, accurate deflection monitoring is essential for assessing serviceability and validating numerical models. This study evaluates the capability of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) as a non-contact technique for measuring the deflection of reinforced concrete beams under static loading. The proposed methodology is primarily intended for laboratory-scale validation but provides a transferable framework for future field applications and structural health monitoring. Experimental TLS measurements were compared with dial gauge and total station measurements, analytical calculations, and finite element simulations using ABAQUS and ANSYS. The results showed excellent agreement between TLS and conventional techniques. At the ultimate load of 230 kN, the measured mid-span deflections were 26.0 mm using TLS, 26.3 mm using the dial gauge, and 26.1 mm using ABAQUS, while ANSYS predicted 21.8 mm. Besides providing accurate deflection measurements, TLS enabled rapid, full-field deformation mapping without physical contact. The close agreement between experimental and numerical results confirms the reliability of TLS for structural deformation monitoring and numerical model validation. Integrating TLS with finite element analysis offers an effective framework for structural performance assessment and supports future structural health monitoring applications. The present investigation was limited to static four-point bending tests. Nevertheless, the proposed TLS-based monitoring methodology is independent of the loading configuration and can potentially be extended to beams subjected to concentrated loads, moving loads, cyclic loading, or other structural loading scenarios, provided that appropriate data acquisition procedures are adopted. Experimental verification under these loading conditions is recommended for future research.
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DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-68044-1
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