Wireless Crack Detection in Concrete Elements Using Conductive Surface Sensors and Radio Frequency Identification Technology
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26, Issue 5
Abstract
This paper describes the results of an experimental study that uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to detect cracking in concrete elements. A RFID-based sensor is used to monitor the change in electrical resistance that occurs in conductive materials applied to the surface of the concrete. When the concrete substrate is strained, the conductive material at the surface is stretched, and its electrical resistance increases. If the concrete substrate is strained to the point where it cracks, the conductive material at the surface also cracks, causing its electrical resistance to increase by orders of magnitude. This paper describes how this increase in electrical resistance attributable to cracking can be detected wirelessly by RFID technology. To experimentally illustrate the application of this technology, an RFID-based sensor and conductive surface materials are used to detect cracking in the restrained ring test. The experimental results indicate that this technology can be easily implemented and successfully used for wireless crack detection in concrete and reinforced concrete members. The technology that is described in this paper is not limited to the laboratory environment and can be easily extended to field applications.
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Acknowledgments
This work was conducted in the Pankow Materials Laboratory and the Materials Sensing and Characterization Laboratory at Purdue University. The authors would like to acknowledge the support that has made these laboratories and this research possible. The first and last authors of this work were supported in part by the National Science Foundation under the NEES Program (Grant CMMI-0724022), which is greatly acknowledged. The RFID sensors were developed under grants from the Oklahoma Transportation Center (OkTC) and the Oklahoma Center for Advancement of Science and Technology (OCAST). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation, OkTC, or OCAST.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 26 • Issue 5 • May 2014
Pages: 923 - 929
Copyright
© 2013 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 3, 2013
Accepted: Jul 2, 2013
Published online: Jul 4, 2013
Discussion open until: Dec 4, 2013
Published in print: May 1, 2014
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