Real-time concrete strength monitoring using piezoelectric sensors and deep learning

This study presents a transformative advancement in civil engineering by integrating artificial intelligence with infrastructure sensing to redefine concrete structures testing and monitoring. Traditional methods for evaluating concrete performance, largely unchanged for over a century, rely on labor-intensive, proxy-based techniques that are both time-consuming and limited in reliability. Our approach combines using piezoelectric sensors with AI-driven data analysis to enable real-time, in situ monitoring of structural conditions with enhanced accuracy and automation. By employing deep learning models to interpret electromechanical impedance signals, the system eliminates the need for destructive testing or human intervention, offering a scalable solution suitable for real-world deployment. Successfully validated across four large-scale highway construction projects, the system demonstrates prediction errors within approximately 15% when benchmarked against standard compression tests conforming to ASTM C39. Aspects of this technology, such as the underlying sensing principle have been incorporated into a new standard by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO T412), representing a significant step toward the national standardization of this non-destructive testing method. Our findings propose a scalable method to integrate intelligent sensing into civil infrastructure system. This will enable the development of resilient and sustainable infrastructure, moving beyond traditional infrastructure monitoring.