Understanding Infrastructure.
About Sensical
Sensical equips infrastructures with innovative fibre optic sensors in order to obtain accurate information about the condition of the structure. The area of application covers road and railway bridges as well as structures for energy and water supply.
The high-resolution data provides the basis for a new quality in the analysis of structural behaviour. Distributed measurements of deformation enable the close monitoring of crack formation at an early stage. All the cracks can be identified, and the crack widths accurately measured.
Sensical combines this with specially designed analysis software to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms at play. In this way the safety, durability and cost effectiveness of the structure can be reliably assessed. This enables the precise planning of timing and scope of required measures and allows the full use of structural capacity.
Dr.-Ing. Andreas Künzel
Founder
Specialist in measurement-based assessment, statics, dynamics, assessment of existing structures and consulting engineer.
Dr Künzel studied civil engineering at the Technical University Berlin with a focus on structural mechanics and civil engineering informatics. During his time as a research associate in the department of statics and dynamics and in his diploma thesis, he dealt with the identification of structural properties based on experimentally obtained measurement data (parameter identification).
After completing his studies, Dr Künzel worked as a research assistant in the department of statics and dynamics at the Institute of Civil Engineering at the TU Berlin, focusing on research and teaching. Here he supervised the courses: structural analysis, shell and plate structures, structural dynamics, and reliability
From 2011 to 2015, he headed the BladeTester research project, which developed methodology as well as a test facility for the quality testing of rotor blades post-production.
As part of his research, Dr Künzel worked on the identification of structural parameters (e.g. material properties, defects, damages) based on innovative fibre optic sensor technology. In 2016 he received PhD in “Parameter identification based on fibre optically measured quasi-continuous strain signals”, supervised by Prof. Petryna.
In 2008, parallel to his scientific work at the TU Berlin, Dr Künzel founded the engineering office SDC statics and dynamics. This office works in specialised areas of construction, focusing on the fields of dynamics, steel construction and special calculations with finite element simulations, as well as the calculation and evaluation of existing structures.
His many years of experience in scientific practice, particularly in the areas of measurement technology and data analysis, coupled with intensive work with fibre-optic sensors in his research project and PhD convinced Dr Künzel of the extensive new possibilities to utilise this technology. Most notably, the potential to detect and assess the condition of infrastructures led to the foundation of Sensical in 2018, together with Dr -Ing Fritz Vogdt.
Dr.-Ing. Fritz Vogdt
Founder
Specialist in reinforced concrete.
Dr. Vogdt studied civil engineering at the Technical University Berlin with a focus on statics of structural design and materials science. During his time as a research associate in the department of statics and dynamics, he worked extensively with experimental tests and the analysis of measured data. From 2007 to 2008 he spent a year at the university of Michigan, where he earned a Master of Science degree, graduating in 2010 as a qualified engineer.
After graduating Dr. Vogdt worked as a research assistant in the department of statics and dynamics, headed by Prof. Yuri Petryna, at the Institute of Civil Engineering, TU Berlin. Here he supervised courses on structural analysis, structural dynamics, and the finite element method.
His scientific research focused on the material laws of concrete, for which he received his PhD in 2017 in “Testing experimentally based evolution equations for a material law of concrete”.
Since 2016 Dr. Vogdt has been working on the DFG project: Experimentally supported modelling of failure mechanisms in high strength concretes under multiaxial stress – MaBet. This project combines innovative sensor concepts in component testing with the latest material-models for simulation and analysis.
The experience he gained in both simulation based and experimental testing of concrete and reinforced concrete structures by means of fibre-optic sensors convinced Dr Vogdt to apply this innovative technology to real structures. This led to the foundation of Sensical in 2018, together with Dr.-Ing. Andreas Künzel.
