OSMOS France was, recently, able to predict the collapse of a parking garage in Netherlands where one of the columns suddenly subsided. The Optical Strand sensors, installed on the structure, revealed clearly an increase in abnormal stress several days in advance! Alerted well in advance, the client took certain steps to ensure that no one was endangered. The data being received from the Optical Strands demonstrated, at once, that real, constant and irreversible deformation was taking place. OSMOS’ unique Structural Health Monitoring abilities enable asset owners, managers and insurers to monitor, in real time, the integrity and stability of their structures.

On Friday, December 2nd, 2011, at midnight, one of the columns of an underground parking at  t’Loon shopping mall in Heerlen, The Netherlands, subsided. Thanks to OSMOS Benelux, the worst has been avoided. This was critical as the parking garage is located under a shopping mall and several residential building. Geotechnical soundings had shown a void between 50 and 70 meters below explaining where the cracks in the slab were originating. At that point, OSMOS instrumentation was installed on both sides of the column that was threatened in order to measure the stress in the structure. It became immediately apparent that the structure was being subjected to abnormal stress in that specific location. OSMOS was able to predict the collapse of the pillar in advance minimizing the risk.
The inhabitants of the building over the parking lot were thus able to be safely evacuated on Thursday evening; the shopping mall was closed because of the danger of collapse and any human tragedy was avoided.
 

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