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Embedded Wireless Sensor for In Situ Concrete Internal Relative Humidity Monitoring
Tai Ikumi1,2, Ignasi Cairó3, Jan Groeneveld3
1Smart Engineering Ltd., 08006 Barcelona, Spain.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 28, 2024
Summary
A new wireless sensor accurately measures concrete
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Concrete's moisture content is critical for its mechanical properties, thermal behavior, and long-term durability.
- Traditional methods for monitoring internal concrete conditions can be invasive or limited in scope.
- Continuous, real-time data on concrete's internal environment is essential for quality control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate a novel, fully embedded wireless sensor for continuous monitoring of temperature and relative humidity within concrete.
- To compare the performance of the new wireless sensor against a commercial borehole-based system.
- To demonstrate the sensor's reliability in detecting variations during the concrete curing process.
Main Methods:
- A fully embedded wireless sensor system was developed and connected to an automatic data acquisition system.
- Relative humidity measurements were taken at depths of 2.5 cm and 4.0 cm.
- Comparative analysis was conducted against a commercial borehole sensor system under controlled oven drying and humid chamber conditions.
Main Results:
- The novel wireless sensor provided consistent internal relative humidity measurements comparable to the commercial borehole system.
- Both sensor systems showed measurements aligned with the applied exposure conditions (drying and humidification).
- The wireless sensor demonstrated reliability during temperature fluctuations, effectively detecting unintended curing variations in real time.
Conclusions:
- Fully embedded wireless sensors offer a practical and reliable alternative to conventional borehole methods for internal concrete monitoring.
- Continuous monitoring capabilities aid in improving concrete quality control, managing shrinkage, and ensuring surface finish integrity.
- The developed sensor technology facilitates real-time detection of curing variations, enabling timely construction management interventions.
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