Self-sensing concrete masonry structures with intrinsic abilities of strain monitoring and damage detection

Nalon, Gustavo Henrique; Ribeiro, José Carlos Lopes; da Silva, Roberto Marcio; Pedroti, Leonardo Gonçalves; Araújo, Eduardo Nery Duarte de

doi:10.1016/j.istruc.2023.105760

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 77 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Furthermore, it can identify cracks or incipient damages caused by exceptional events or variations in usage [24,25]. The existing literature predominantly explores cement-based matrices (such as cement pastes or mortars) and small-sized samples [26][27][28]. Nevertheless, the behavior of concrete smart composites and medium-to high-scale elements, together with the investigation of the tailored setup and implementation, remains largely unexplored territory, but are essential for real application of this technology [9,29,30].…”

Section: State-of-the-artmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical and Durability Investigation of Composite Mortar with Carbon Microfibers (CMF)

D’Alessandro,

Ubertini

2024

Applied Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper investigates the mechanical properties and the durability implications of innovative cement-based mortars doped with carbon microfibers. In particular, mixes with different amounts of carbon additions are produced, and the properties of fresh and hardened samples are analyzed through workability, water absorption, and compressive and flexural tests under specific environmental conditions. These composites can be employed to enhance construction performance or provide structures with strain-monitoring capabilities. However, the analysis of their mechanical properties and their durability behavior is needed before extensive structural use. In this work, the preparation procedure is defined for the various mix designs, considering different amounts of carbon microfibers; then, fresh properties are evaluated, and different types of samples formed. After various curing times, the specific rheological and hardened properties of the specimens are tested in different conditions to consider the durability of the composites, essential for the real-scale adoption in structural elements. Preliminary electrical and sensing tests are first conducted to evaluate the monitoring potential of the investigated composites. The findings highlight the impact of carbon inclusions on the performance of cement-based mortars, offering valuable insights for their utilization in masonry construction or for repairing concrete structures. In particular, sensing capabilities are found to be highly enhanced by the presence of CMF. Additionally, the results of this research pinpoint key areas for further analysis in the material’s development process.

show abstract

Section: State-of-the-artmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mechanical and Durability Investigation of Composite Mortar with Carbon Microfibers (CMF)

D’Alessandro,

Ubertini

2024

Applied Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Advancing seismic monitoring of masonry structures with smart bricks: recent developments and future prospects

Ubertini

2024

Sensors and Smart Structures Technologies for Civil, Mechanical, and Aerospace Systems 2024

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Masonry structures constitute a significant portion of the world's cultural heritage, and ensuring their structural and seismic safety presents formidable challenges. These challenges include highly nonlinear mechanical behavior, complex failure mechanisms, heterogeneous material properties, and intricate modeling requirements. Structural health monitoring (SHM) has emerged as a pivotal approach to comprehending how these structures respond to seismic events, thus enhancing safety assessments and enabling informed decision-making. However, SHM for masonry structures remains exceptionally challenging due to the aforementioned complexities. Traditional SHM methods, reliant on global response data, often struggle to pinpoint damage effectively. Concurrently, externally attached off-the-shelf sensors prove inadequate for monitoring masonry structures with extensive and intricate geometries. Such sensors typically provide localized information that does not adequately represent the broader structural response evolving within structural macro-elements. To surmount these challenges, novel sensing strategies are imperative to establish a more direct connection between damage assessment and decision-making. In this context, author's research group at the University of Perugia, Italy, is pioneering innovative strain-based SHM techniques for existing masonry structures. The key approach involves the deployment of "smart bricks," which are strain-sensing micro-composite clay bricks capable of generating electrical outputs when subjected to external loads. These smart bricks replace conventional bricks at specific locations, supplying valuable data for damage identification through average masonry strain comparisons under permanent loads before and after seismic events. This work highlights group's recent achievements in sensor development, encompassing sensor fabrication, characterization, and damage identification. Additionally, the talk will delve into the journey towards achieving a truly intelligent masonry by integrating smart bricks with smart mortar layers, providing insights into the detection of cracks and larger-scale structural damage within these heritage structures.

show abstract

Self-sensing concrete masonry structures with intrinsic abilities of strain monitoring and damage detection

Cited by 2 publications

References 77 publications

Mechanical and Durability Investigation of Composite Mortar with Carbon Microfibers (CMF)

Mechanical and Durability Investigation of Composite Mortar with Carbon Microfibers (CMF)

Advancing seismic monitoring of masonry structures with smart bricks: recent developments and future prospects

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About