Water Permeability Monitoring Based on the Electrical Signal Changes of Piezoresistive Cementitious Composites
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36, Issue 11
Abstract
Water significantly influences the electrical resistivity and piezoresistive performance of piezoresistive cementitious composites (PCCs). In existing studies, it has been difficult to reflect the actual water permeability in real structures using overall moisture content of specimens. Thus, to facilitate structural health monitoring of piezoresistive cement-based sensors in aquatic service, this study evaluated cementitious composites containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes to create a piezoresistive cement-based sensor. The variations in electrical signals were monitored to assess the internal water permeability of the specimens. An improved method for the installation of laterally arranged copper electrode meshes was developed. The changes in electrical resistivity and gauge factors before and after water permeability experiment were defined as the fractional change in permeability electrical resistivity (FCPR) and the fractional change in gauge factor (FCGF), respectively. These metrics were utilized to assess the extent of water permeability in the water-permeated specimens based on the ranges of FCPR and FCGF. The experimental results indicated that (1) with an increase in water permeability time, the moisture content and seepage height of the water-permeated specimens gradually increase, the degree of decrease in electrical resistivity becomes more pronounced, and FCR has an increasing fluctuation with periodic rises and falls under the same connection; (2) the electrical signals in the semidry region above the water mark exhibit slight fluctuations, indicating that the piezoresistive cement-based sensor can provide advanced warning of water permeability; and (3) the more extensive the water permeability, the higher are the FCPR and FCGF exhibited by the piezoresistive cement-based sensors, allowing for the assessment of water permeation. This study provides a new understanding of the unique properties and potential applications of piezoresistive cement-based sensors in aquatic environments, paving the way for their future application in monitoring and maintaining aquatic services.
Practical Applications
This paper introduces a piezoresistive cement-based sensor formed by incorporating carbon nanotubes into cementitious composites. However, during service of structural health monitoring in concrete structures using piezoresistive cement-based sensors. In contrast to other studies aiming to mitigate the impact of moisture, this paper leverages the high sensitivity of the piezoresistive cement-based sensor to moisture. The water permeation in the water-permeated specimens is evaluated through changes in the electrical signals. The objective is to establish the transverse and longitudinal arrangement of piezoresistive cement-based sensors arrays in RC structures in aquatic service for water permeability monitoring and damage monitoring. As the water gradually permeates the RC structure, the piezoresistive cement-based sensors at different water permeability conditions exhibit distinct electrical signal changes. This will allow for advanced warning of steel corrosion and real-time monitoring of damage development in aquatic service for RC structures.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support by the Innovation Capability Support Program of Shaanxi (Program No. 2022TD-05), the “Sanqin Scholar” innovation team of Shaanxi, the “Scientists+Engineers” Team Construction Project of Qinchuangyuan, Shaanxi Province (Grant No. 2022KXJ-094), and Technology Innovation Leading Program of Shaanxi (Program No. 2023GXLH-057).
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 36 • Issue 11 • November 2024
Copyright
© 2024 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 20, 2023
Accepted: Apr 9, 2024
Published online: Aug 28, 2024
Published in print: Nov 1, 2024
Discussion open until: Jan 28, 2025
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Aquatic habitats
- Cement
- Concrete
- Ecosystems
- Electrical resistivity
- Energy engineering
- Energy sources (by type)
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Equipment and machinery
- Hydro power
- Hydrologic engineering
- Hydrologic properties
- Hydrology
- Material mechanics
- Material properties
- Materials characterization
- Materials engineering
- Permeability (material)
- Probe instruments
- Renewable energy
- Water and water resources
- Water content
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