In Situ Detection of Water Leakage for Textile-Reinforced Composites

Abstract

By incorporating electrically conductive yarns into a waterproof membrane, one can detect epoxy resin cracking or liquid leakage. Therefore, this study examined the electrical conductivity variations of several yarns (metallic or carbon-based) for cracking and water detection. The first observations concerned the detectors’ feasibility by investigating their conductivity variations during both their resin implementation processes and their resin cracking. Throughout this experiment, two phenomena were detected: the compression and the separation of the fibres by the resin. In addition, the resin cracking had an important role in decreasing the yarns’ conductivity. The second part of this study concerned water detection. Two principles were established and implemented, first with yarns and then with yarns incorporated into the resin. First, the principle of absorption was based on the conductivity variation with the yarns’ swelling after contact with water. A short circuit was established by the creation of a conductive path when a drop of water was deposited between two conductive, parallel yarns. Through the influence of the yarns’ properties, this study explored the metallic yarns’ capacity to better detect water with a short circuit and the ability of the carbon-based yarns to detect water by the principle of absorption.

Conducting Polymers: A Versatile Material for Biomedical Applications

“…Textile structures can be incorporated into smart materials by different methods such as embroidering, knitting, weaving, yarn spinning fiber, spinning, coating, plating, printing, etc. [32,33] Manual application masking process, dip coating, or imprint are the methods employed in coating textiles. Coating uniformity is influenced by the coating material's viscosity and consistency, as well as the tension and permeability.…”

Carbon Rovings as Strain Sensor in TRC Structures: Effect of Roving Cross-Sectional Shape and Coating Material on the Electrical Response under Bending Stress

“…The severity of the structural damage depends on many factors, such as material type, component size, cathodic protection or environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity, soil type and moisture for buried elements). Especially for buried underground systems such as tunnels or concrete pipes, it is difficult to perform continuous maintenance or assess the structural condition, which is very important for the management of transportation, as well as for the gas or fluid distribution systems [ 3 , 4 ].…”

“…Furthermore, an additional monitoring system is usually required to oversee the condition of the structure. However, such systems are often very cost-intensive and can be affected by environmental impacts or structural damage to the concrete [ 4 , 9 ]. This problem may be resolved by integrating the monitoring system into the reinforcement structure.…”