Electrical resistance response of a pair of self-sensing concrete blocks under non-destructive compression

Self-sensing concrete is an advanced material capable of monitoring its stress or strain through changes in its electrical resistance. A novelty of this study lies in its focus on the electrical resistance response, not of an individual concrete specimen as in most previous studies, but rather on a pair of self-sensing concrete blocks under non-destructive compression, targeting future applications in large-scale load-weighing systems. The self-sensing concrete samples in the study were fabricated by incorporating carbon fibers into the concrete mixture, creating a conductive network within the material. The experimental setup involved subjecting a robust steel plate to incremental compressive loads, supported by a pair of self-sensing concrete blocks. The corresponding changes in electrical resistance were measured throughout the loading process. Results indicated that each concrete block might exhibit different responses, but their summed response is nearly linear with a high R-squared value above 0.9 and relatively consistent between experimental cases. Additionally, the study highlighted that variations in the current intensity do not significantly affect the resistance response. On the other hand, the locations of concrete blocks relative to the load were identified as a crucial factor affecting the resistance response. Within the scope of this study, the error in the predicted load value corresponding to the resistance variation when experimental parameters are changed is below 10.7%.The findings of this study demonstrate the significant potential of using self-sensing concrete for large-scale load-weighing systems in future smart traffic and logistics management systems