In collaboration with the Dam Safety Interest Group of CEA Technologies, Inc. (CEATI), a consortium of electrical power organizations, LiveWire has applied its fault detection technology to potential faults in post-tensioned anchor cables imbedded in concrete dam structures.

The on-site tests revealed that LiveWire's SSTDR technology can be used to detect and locate changes in baseline anchor cable performance under the following conditions:

• Up to 160 feet from the test point
• In electrically isolated concrete anchors
• Both grouted and ungrouted


• Partial breaks or corrosion down to 50% of baseline performance

Prior to making a site visit, LiveWire technical staff and the structure's owners / operators exchange technical information to provide permanent access points for the initial and all subsequent tests. This may include some minor drilling to provide a point of connection between the anchor(s) and the LiveWire test equipment. Anchors must be electrically isolated, which can be easily determined.

During the initial visit, LiveWire personnel and the owners / operators work together to install and calibrate the system and establish baseline readings for each anchor cable to be monitored. This data is stored for future comparisons.

At virtually any interval specified by the owner/operator of the structure, a LiveWire specialist returns, records fresh data from the same test access points, compares the results from the previous visit, and detects and locates any faults that may have developed in the interim.

This detection and location of faults in a high noise environment (such as steel embedded in concrete) is made possible by LiveWire's unique technology known as Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry, or SSTDR, whereby the signals from the noise are extracted from the reflected signals, permitting isolation of any real changes in the health of the system. For more technical information, please see Technology or contact us.