Feasibility study of using smart aggregates as embedded acoustic emission sensors for health monitoring of concrete structures

Abstract

Acoustic emission (AE) is a nondestructive evaluation technique that is capable of monitoring the damage evolution of concrete structures in real time. Conventionally, AE sensors are surface mounted on the host structures,however, the AE signals attenuate quickly due to the high attenuation propertiesof concrete structures. This study conducts a feasibility study of using smart aggregates (SAs), which area type of embedded piezoceramic transducers, as embedded AE sensors for the health monitoring of concrete structures. A plain concrete beam with two surface mounted AE sensors and two embedded SAs was fabricated in laboratory and loaded under a designed three-point-bending test. The performance of embedded SAs werecompared with the traditional surface mounted AE sensorsin their ability to detect and evaluate the damage to the concrete structure. The results verified the feasibility of using smart aggregates as embedded AE sensors for monitoringstructural damage in concrete. Potentially, the low cost smart aggregates could function as embedded AE sensors,providing great sensitivity and high reliability in applications for thestructural health monitoring of concrete structures.

Monitoring Concrete Deterioration Due to Reinforcement Corrosion by Integrating Acoustic Emission and FBG Strain Measurements

“…Since the reinforced concrete structure is generally large in size, surface mounting AE sensors may reduce the sensitivity and efficacy of the AE sensors. Alternatively, we recently proposed the low-cost, embedded smart aggregate as a type of embedded AE sensor [16]. The embedded AE sensors can be strategically installed at the locations that are prone to damage in order to increase the efficacy of the AE method.…”

“…Acoustic emission is comprised of high frequency elastic waves or stress waves generated when there is a rapid release of energy within a material that is undergoing deformation [14,15,16]. In concrete structures, as corrosion products are formed around steel reinforcement, pressure is built up in the surrounding concrete.…”

Study on Seismic Performance and Damage Analysis of Steel Plate Shear Wall with Partially Encased Composite (PEC) Columns

“…As the enanbling element for the active sensing method [57][58][59] and the dance (EMI) method [60,61], PZT transducers are often used in structural M) systems [62][63][64][65][66]. With the recent development of PZT based smart structure damage detection [67][68][69][70][71] and the application of PZT transducers in teel-concrete composite structures [72][73][74][75], the authors will explore health e detection of steel plate shear wall with PEC Columns using the embeddable ] and the easy-to-install surface-bonded piezoceramic patch transducers [78] Analyses ment Curve ed back of loading points of the lateral loading device in the loading process h MTS. The relationship between the counterforce and the displacement was ysteretic loops at the loading point of the steel plate shear wall with PEC igure 8. of the test loading, the counter-force and displacement were basically linear, loop was small, the stiffness of specimen was larger, and the energy At this time, the test piece was in the elastic stage, and the infill steel plate inge frame.…”

Experimental Study on Energy Dissipation Performance and Failure Mode of Web-Connected Replaceable Energy Dissipation Link

“…However, the strain gauge sensors that were used cannot monitor these types of damages in real time. With the recent development of smart aggregates in structure damage monitoring [59][60][61][62][63][64] and the application of piezoceramic transducer transducer-based in health monitoring of steel structures [65][66][67][68], the authors will explore health monitoring and damage detection of eccentric braced steel frames while using the easy-to-operate smart aggregate and easy-to-install piezoceramic patch transducers in the future work.…”