Evaluation of piezoresistive response and freeze–thaw damage of self-sensing cement mortar based on conductive fibre

Abstract

This paper aims to design a self-sensing cement mortar of optimised mechanical and sensing properties considering the water-cement ratio and propose a freeze–thaw damage sensing evaluation parameter. An orthogonal experimental design of compressive strength test and piezoresistive response test was utilised to find the optimal proportion. Freeze–thaw damage sensing test was conducted to found the method for characterising freeze–thaw damage. It is found that the order of the influential factors on stress sensitivity is CF (carbon fibre) content > water-ratio > SF (steel fibre) content. A freeze–thaw damage parameter $D_k$ was proposed for characterising freeze–thaw damage based on the slope of the curve of fraction change in resistivity and freeze–thaw cycle numbers and it can be applied to the prediction of the service life of self-sensing cement mortar. The findings of this investigation can help engineers realise freeze–thaw damage evaluation in cement concrete pavement using self-sensing cement mortar.

Keywords:

• Self-sensing cement mortar
• water-cement ratio
• piezoresistive response
• freeze–thaw damage

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This study is sponsored by the projects found by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) [grant number 51978163; 52208439], the Jiangsu Nature Science Foundation [grant number BK20200468], and the Jiangsu Transportation Science and Technology and Achievement Transformation Project [grant number 2020Y19-1(1)], to which the authors are very grateful.