Strain Monitoring of Concrete Using Carbon Black-Based Smart Coatings

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Civil Engineering
• Structural Health Monitoring

Background:

• Aging infrastructure necessitates advanced maintenance strategies, shifting towards predictive and preventive approaches.
• Self-sensing cement-based materials offer a durable alternative to traditional electronic sensors for structural monitoring.
• Challenges in bulk applications include poor workability and high manufacturing costs, limiting practical implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and investigate smart carbon-based cementitious coatings for concrete strain monitoring.
• To optimize sensor design and carbon black concentrations for enhanced performance.
• To evaluate the electromechanical properties of the developed sensing coatings.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of cementitious coatings with varying carbon black (CB) concentrations.
• Physical, electrical, and electromechanical characterization of the coatings.
• Geometric optimization of sensor design, including thickness and gauge length.

Main Results:

• Optimal strain-sensing performance of 55.5 ± 2.7 achieved with 2 wt% CB concentration.
• Optimal sensor dimensions identified as 3 mm thickness and 60 mm gauge length.
• Demonstrated feasibility of using CB-enhanced coatings for concrete strain monitoring.

Conclusions:

• Smart carbon-based cementitious coatings show great promise for practical concrete strain monitoring.
• The developed coatings offer a viable solution for the maintenance of aging infrastructure.
• Further research can explore wider applications in structural health monitoring.