MSR data logger in use for art transportation
Authors: Cornelius Palmbach, Thomas Fankhauser, Matthias Läuchli, Anita Hoess and Nathalie Bäschlin
Bern University of Applied Sciences / Bern University of the Arts
The use of MSR165 data loggers was presented back in May 2012 as part of the CTI research project Risk assessment for shock and vibration immissions with new prevention strategies for the transportation of fragile paintings.
The research results provided comprehensive new insights into improved risk assessment and the problems of existing transport packaging. Building on this, concepts for optimized vibration protection during the transport of fragile paintings are now being developed in a follow-up project.
The interdisciplinary research team is made up of experts from the Department of Conservation and Restoration KuR at the Bern University of Applied Sciences BFH / Bern University of the Arts HKB and the Institute for Mechatronic Systems ifms at the BFH-TI in Burgdorf (CH). The project is supported by four business partners: a Swiss insurance company and the three most important Swiss art transportation companies. Experts from various Swiss museums are accompanying the project as practical partners.
Comparative measurements to evaluate current transport packaging
The type of painting, the transport route and the mode of transportation determine the type of packaging. From simple wrapping in bubble wrap to elaborate double climate-controlled crates, countless methods and combinations of materials are used in practice to reduce both the shock events and the continuous vibrations that occur during the transportation of a painting. The previous project had already shown that some of this packaging is inadequately damping or that it can even lead to an increase in immissions.
As part of the current research project, numerous different cushioning materials were therefore tested for their ability to dampen vibrations using an electrodynamic vibration testing system, a so-called shaker. Drop tests were also carried out in order to assess shock behavior. Based on the findings, the business partners (transport companies) developed various prototypes with revised damping systems.
In order to evaluate their damping capacity under real conditions and compare them with the existing packaging systems used to date, several test drives were carried out with air-suspended trucks. Each truck simultaneously carried four identical test paintings, each of which was packaged differently. This was to ensure that each package was subjected to approximately the same loads while driving on country roads, highways and in city traffic. MSR165 data loggers from MSR Electronics GmbH were attached to the test paintings, to the outside of the packaging and to the loading area of the trucks in order to investigate how well the different packaging systems dampen the vibrations generated by the trucks. A total of 13 MSR loggers with integrated 3-axis acceleration sensors and humidity sensors were used.
The data loggers were programmed to automatically start and stop recording (measuring rate 1600Hz, continuous without thresholds) at a previously programmed time. The measurement data was then analyzed using MATLAB software. In order to be able to assess the damping capacity of the different packaging, the transmission behavior of the vibrations from the truck or from the packaging to the test paintings was determined. For this purpose, the maximum values, the RMS levels (root mean square) and the dominant frequencies were determined and compared with each other. The results are intended to provide information on the advantages and disadvantages of the various packaging methods for art transport and to identify starting points for further optimization options.
MSR165 data logger in use
The science program "nano" on the TV channel "3sat" reported on the CTI project on 8.10.2014 in the article "The picture in the box".
MSR165 in minute 2:22