Products — Structural Health Monitoring

Xylos

A monitoring system designed specifically for wood structures, solid or laminated: it continuously measures strain, temperature, tilt, and wood moisture at the same point, applied to the surface or embedded between the lamellae during production. A combination of parameters with no equivalent solution on the market today.

  • Strain
  • Temperature
  • Tilt
  • Wood moisture
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InSensus sensors applied to the historic timber beams of the Museo di San Marco, Florence.

10 %

Measuring Strain Range

thermoplastic version

< 10 min

Installation time, surface application

With a dedicated two-component adhesive

0.25 mm

Smart Skin Sensor thickness

Embedded between the lamellae during production

2

Installation methods

On the surface or embedded in the glulam

The system

Xylos is an evolution of SuperMicron, developed specifically for wood monitoring and enhanced with a parameter that is critical for this material: moisture. The unit transmits data remotely and enables continuous monitoring, with no external integration required. It requires no scheduled maintenance: a multiparameter sensor unlike anything else available, at a contained cost.

Two versions: surface mounted or embedded

The sensor matrix, thermoset or thermoplastic, is selected based on the structure's material. The thermoset version can be surface applied or embedded directly within the glulam during production, becoming a permanent part of the structure. The thermoplastic version is applied to the surface.

One sensor, four measurements

A single installation pairs the strain sensor with an electronic unit with integrated transmission module. The moisture electrodes, inserted directly into the wood, measure the material's internal moisture content. Strain sensor, thermometer, moisture sensor, and accelerometer together provide a complete picture of the wood structure's health.

Data Transmission

The system is available in LoRaWAN, NB-IoT, or Wireless versions, depending on site requirements, with BLE interfacing available. Communication is bidirectional.

01 / The two sensor versions

Same system, same platform: the Smart Skin Sensor matrix changes, and with it the installation options.

Thermoset version

3% Measuring Strain Range

Xylos Thermoset

The version that can be embedded during production. The Smart Skin Sensor in thermoset matrix is applied to the surface of existing structures, or embedded directly between the lamellae during glulam production, becoming a permanent part of the structure.

  • Wood
  • Historic wood
  • Glulam
  • Linear behavior verified in laboratory within the 3% measuring range (Politecnico di Torino, White Lab Fano, Università Politecnica delle Marche)
  • Can be embedded between lamellae during production (embedded configuration)

Thermoplastic version

10% Measuring Strain Range

Xylos Thermoplastic

The version for large deformations. The thermoplastic matrix extends the measurable strain range up to 10%, a range inaccessible to traditional strain gauges, always surface applied.

  • Wood
  • Historic wood
  • Strain range up to 10%, well beyond the limits of a traditional strain gauge
  • Applicable to the surface of any wood structure

02 / Monitored quantities

  • Strain 3 channels, ±2 microstrain resolution
  • Temperature ±0.03 °C resolution
  • Tilt 3 axes, 0.02° accuracy
  • Wood moisture Resistive, with interchangeable needle electrodes, 6–30% range, 0.1% resolution

03 / Installation methods and materials

Surface application with two-component adhesive, or direct integration between the lamellae during production. Even the thermoset version, while maintaining linear behavior, retains enough flexibility to be embedded in the laminate during production, as well as surface-applied.

  • Solid timber
  • Glulam (GL)
  • X-Lam / CLT

04 / Technical specifications

Smart Skin Sensor

Material
Composite with carbon fibres and nanotubes (epoxy-resin prepreg)
Thickness
0.25 mm
Protection rating
IP68
Operating temperature
−30 °C … +75 °C
Strain resolution
±2 microstrain
Temperature resolution
±0.03 °C
Accelerometer / inclinometer
3 axes (X, Y, Z), 0.02° accuracy
UV resistance
Yes, with the external coating
Installation
On the surface with a two-component adhesive, or embedded between the lamellae

Protective coating (optional)

Type
Elastomeric, co-polymerised with the resin in the same production cycle
Effect
Crash-proof — ductile, gradual failure; weathering resistance
Limitation
Not available for embedded configurations (already protected by the laminate layers)

Acquisition and transmission electronics

Transmission
LoRaWAN (Semtech SX1276 transceiver)NB-IoTWirelessBLERS485
Third-party sensor inputs
3 analog inputs1 1-Wire bus1 RS485

Compliance

Marking
CE
RED Directive
2014/53/EU
Electromagnetic compatibility
Compliant (EMC)

Wood-moisture measurement

Measurement principle
Resistive, with interchangeable needle electrodes
Measuring range
6%–30%
Resolution
0.1%

05 / Typical applications

  • Glulam roofs and trusses
  • Multi-storey X-Lam / CLT buildings
  • Historic buildings and heritage timber structures
  • Timber bridges and footbridges

Who it is for

  • Glulam structure manufacturers
  • Timber structure designers
  • Custodians of historic timber buildings

Patents Proprietary, multi-patented technology; the list of titles is available on request

Let's talk about your monitoring project

Tell us about the structure to monitor: we will propose the best-suited configuration.

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