Electrical resistivity as a measure of change of state in substrates: Design, development and validation of an automated system

Abstract Intrinsically smart structural composites are materials, which can perform function such as sensing strain, stress damage or temperature. Electrical resistance could potentially serve as an indicator of structural well-being or damage in the structure. To this end, the development of an automated resistance measurement system is desired. An automated nodal electrical resistance acquisition circuitry (NERAC) was designed, and interfaced to a laptop for measurement of electrical resistance/impedance from the substrate of interest. Measurements were carried out using DC/AC method with four-point probe technique. Baseline reading before damage was noted and compared with the resistance measured after damage. The device was calibrated and validated on three different substrates: PVDF samples, composite panels and smart concrete. Results conformed to previous work done on these substrates, validating the effective working of the NERAC device. Change of state of the substrate, after damage was assessed by measurement of resistance/impedance.

[1]  Adrian Long,et al.  Monitoring electrical resistance of concretes containing alternative cementitious materials to assess their resistance to chloride penetration , 2002 .

[2]  W. John McCarter,et al.  Sensor systems for use in reinforced concrete structures , 2004 .

[3]  Vijay Vaidyanathan,et al.  Development and testing of a nodal resistance measurement (NRM) system for composite structures , 2008 .

[4]  Hoon Sohn,et al.  Design of a wireless active sensing unit for structural health monitoring , 2004, SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring.

[5]  Thomas L. Floyd.  Electric Circuits Fundamentals , 1987 .

[6]  D.D.L. Chung,et al.  Self-sensing of flexural strain and damage in carbon fiber polymer-matrix composite by electrical resistance measurement , 2006 .

[7]  D.D.L. Chung,et al.  Real-time monitoring of fatigue damage and dynamic strain in carbon fiber polymer-matrix composite by electrical resistance measurement , 1997 .

[8]  D. Chung,et al.  Piezoresistive Cement-Based Materials for Strain Sensing , 2002 .

[9]  Wayne Lee.  EXperimental design and analysis , 1975 .

[10]  Jaycee H. Chung,et al.  Time dependent piezoresistive behavior of polyvinylidene fluoride/carbon nanotube conductive composite , 2009 .

[11]  D. Chung,et al.  Self-sensing of Damage and Strain in Carbon Fiber Polymer-Matrix Structural Composites by Electrical Resistance Measurement , 2003 .

[12]  R. Prabhakaran,et al.  Damage assessment through electrical resistance measurement in graphite fiber-reinforced composites , 1990 .

[13]  D.D.L. Chung,et al.  Self-monitoring of fatigue damage and dynamic strain in carbon fiber polymer-matrix composite , 1998 .

[14]  D.D.L. Chung,et al.  Composites get smart , 2002 .