Open Access

The article explores the material and structural size effects on the electrical impedance response of the embedded PZT sensors which are used as an sensors/actuator in the smart sensing concrete. An embedded sensor for use in concrete monitoring is developed using Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT). The electrical impedance (EI) response of the sensor placed inside concrete cubes of varying sizes are recorded for an applied electrical input of varying frequency. The dynamic response of the embedded PZT sensor to the applied electrical input is determined by the mechanical impedance offered by the surrounding medium. In specimens of finite size, the mechanical impedance to the motion of the PZT is influenced by the combination of dynamic material resistance and structural stiffness (size of the structure). The current study examined the effects of material resistance and size of structure on the EI response of the PZT sensor embedded in concrete medium. The influence of the size of the medium from small-sized specimens is seen in the form of secondary peaks, identified as structural peaks, on the resonance spectrum of the embedded PZT sensor. The structural peaks on the EI response are very dominant in the concrete cube of small sizes. Magnitude and intensity of these structural peaks attenuate with an increase in the size of the concrete cube. Also, the EI response from the smaller-sized specimens registered a significant leftward shift in the spectrum. The observations from the numerical simulations also showed the mechanical impedance of the surrounding concrete medium to the motion of the PZT also increases and converges at 150 mm. At sizes below 150 mm, the structural effects that are influenced by the specimen boundary must be separated to access the material properties of the concrete medium from the measured EI response of an embedded PZT sensor. At sizes, larger than 150 mm, the dynamic motion of the PZT patch and the measured EI response of the PZT patch depend only on the dynamic material properties of the concrete medium around the sensor. The zone of influence and its importance in standardization of PZT sensor for SHM of concrete structures is discussed.

Concrete undergoes physical and chemical changes from the time of casting. These changes in early stage of hydration of concrete, highly influence the final properties and overall performance of concrete structures. Comprehensive health monitoring sensors can help to improve the quality and performance of concrete structures by providing detailed and accurate real-time information about the properties and condition of concrete at different stages of its life cycle. In this study, an embedded smart PZT (Lead Zirconate and Titanium) sensor is developed and its potential for comprehensive health monitoring of concrete structures is explored. To protect the PZT sensor from short-circuiting and alkaline environment, a robust and sensitive protection scheme is developed. The developed embedded smart PZT sensor was placed in the concrete during casting to infer the in-situ properties of concrete through active and passive sensing techniques. Through active sensing techniques Electrical Impedance (EI) and wave propagation (WP), the hydration and damage are monitored, respectively; through passive sensing techniques vibration, and acoustic emission (AE), the development of Young’s modulus and cracking in concrete are monitored. The methodology to infer the changes inworkability, complete set behavior, property development, and crack opening in concrete structures is developed. The reproducibility of all these techniques using the developed embedded smart PZT sensor is established. Since the developed sensor is capable of both active and passive sensing, it allows for a more comprehensive and flexible approach to health monitoring. This contributes to increased data accuracy, reliability, and a more holistic understanding of the concrete structure’s condition.