Characterisation of graphene-based geotextiles for moisture detection in pavements

Immediately introducing traffic to pavements following a flood event can result in severe pavement conditions and performance consequences. Although several monitoring techniques exist for detecting post-flood pavement conditions, there needs to be a method capable of continuously monitoring pavements during and immediately after flooding. Due to their unique conductive properties, smart geosynthetics have gained considerable attention for their potential use in geotechnical applications. This paper addresses this gap by analysing the electrical behaviour of graphene-based geotextiles for possible moisture detection in pavements. Experimental tests were conducted on a commercially available graphene-coated geotextile to investigate its response to moisture and salinity changes. This study strongly correlated the geotextile's electrical impedance and moisture content. It was also found that the salinity of water affects the electrical response of the conductive geotextile. This study serves as a foundation for the possible use of graphene-based geotextiles to detect moisture changes in pavements, with the potential to develop practical tools and techniques for mitigating pavement deterioration caused by flooding.