Self-sensing performance of cement-based sensor with carbon black and polypropylene fibre subjected to different loading conditions. (1st November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Guo, Yipu; Li, Wengui; Dong, Wenkui; Luo, Zhiyu; Qu, Fulin; Yang, Fei; Wang, Kejin
• Is Part Of: Journal of building engineering. Volume 59(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-01
• Subjects: Carbon black -- Cement-based sensor -- Self-sensing -- Polypropylene fibre -- Mechanical loading; Building -- Periodicals; 690.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.105003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-7102

Abstract

Abstract: Different dosages of carbon black (CB) were used to manufacture the cost-effective and highly sensitive polypropylene (PP) fibre cement-based sensors in this paper. The distribution of conductive phases and static electrical resistivity were firstly investigated through microscopic characterization and static resistivity, respectively. Then the self-sensing performance of the CB/PP fibre cementitious composites in response to different loading conditions was comprehensively assessed by cyclic compression, notched bending, and splitting tensile conditions. The results indicate that the improvement of PP fibres on conductivity and self-sensing performance is heavily dependent on the coating efficiency of CB nanoparticles on the surfaces of PP fibres. In particular, the cement-based sensors with excellent CB coating efficiency demonstrate the most promising pre-crack flexural sensing capacity. Additionally, the strain hardening characteristics and damage sensing ability for the intrinsic cement-based sensors were explored by splitting tension together with digital image correlation tracking. Apart from a strong linear correlation between fractional change of resistivity and tensile strain during the strain hardening stage, the distinct sensing characteristics between the strain hardening stage and softening stage can give the diagnosis of damage stage (strain hardening stage or softening stage) and crack width (microcracking or macrocracking). Therefore, the intrinsic CB/PP fibre cementitious composites as robust cement-based sensors can provide a great potential to sense strain and deformation as well as detect crack and damage for concrete infrastructure subjected to various loading conditions. Highlights: CB nanoparticles are preferentially absorbed on surface of PP fibre due to hydrophobic interaction. CB nanoparticles are effectively coated on pp fibre surfaces for specimens with 1.0% CB and 1.5% CB. Effectiveness of conductivity enhancement of PP fibres on CB is heavily dependent on coating efficiency. CB/PP fibre help achieve a ductile failure with strain hardening stage and slow-descending stage. A phenomenological model can explain different FCR responses in CB/PP fibre cementitious composites.