A Comparative Study on the Electrical and Piezoresistive Sensing Characteristics of GFRP and CFRP Composites with Hybridized Incorporation of Carbon Nanotubes, Graphenes, Carbon Nanofibers, and Graphite Nanoplatelets.

Manan Bhandari,Baofeng Huang,Ilwoo Nam,Daeik Jang,Jianchao Wang

doi:10.3390/s21217291

Abstract

In this study, hybridized carbon nanomaterials (CNMs), such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs)–graphene, CNT–carbon nanofibers (CNFs), or CNT–graphite nanoplatelet (GNP) materials were embedded in glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) or carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) composites to obtain electrical/piezoresistive sensing characteristics that surpass those of composites with only one type of CNM. In addition, to quantitatively assess their sensing characteristics, the materials were evaluated in terms of gauge factor, peak shift, and R-squared values. The electrical property results showed that the GFRP samples containing only CNTs or both CNTs and graphene exhibited higher electrical conductivity values than those of other composite samples. By evaluating piezoresistive sensing characteristics, the CNT–CNF GFRP composites showed the highest gauge factor values, followed by the CNT–graphene GFRP and CNT-only GFRP composites. These results are explained by the excluded volume theory. The peak shift and R-squared value results signified that the CNT–graphene GFRP composites exhibited the best sensing characteristics. Thus, the CNT–graphene GFRP composites would be the most feasible for use as FRP composite sensors.

Highlights

Infrastructure typically refers to the fundamental services and systems that serve a country, city, or other areas, including the roads, bridges, tunnels, water supply, sewers, electricity grids, and telecommunication services that provide the basic necessities for a society to function [1]
Electrical conductivity networks formed in the glass-fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP), as the carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) were incorporated in the GFRP, 4.1
To overcom5e. tChoendcrlauwsiboancsks in the sensing performance of composites fabricated with aGcoofNsmtihnPpegmoilresaeitttleyeesrcp.itearTilochsafewwClCfNpieatNrrhbTeorMT–piaiGcone,ascrNhtoitoeniyvPredgbpesmlrrCoeacirdnaNoattidmyteMzeprepedie-daiietnilohnCszcfeotoNworCrdeMepeNsrrpoiaessMrowtaisxin,tvbuyecaehcdorchyserkFebpsasnRriosnisiPrdniCaanictznNgteoehddmTdceh–uipCngsasoerterNosanadicpMstettiehepnossergofiwnsxsaueptybei,cecrrhreCrsiecf.NeoasaIvirtnsnTema–pClGaauCanNnFarNdcttRTieeFc–Pud,ugosoolirefanrardrcpC,tCoethtoFmNhremRenfTpaiPesr–ob,srCiitceNastTef–aGCb sensing characteristics were assessed on the basis of parameters such as gauge factor, peak shift, and R-squared values

Summary

Introduction

Infrastructure typically refers to the fundamental services and systems that serve a country, city, or other areas, including the roads, bridges, tunnels, water supply, sewers, electricity grids, and telecommunication services that provide the basic necessities for a society to function [1]. Transportation-related infrastructure comprises a sizable portion of overall infrastructure and deteriorates over time. This is a significant issue in both developed and rapidly growing countries [2]. Many infrastructure components, such as bridges, have been subjected to load restrictions or replaced before reaching their intended service life. Replacing infrastructure is expensive; one solution involves the implementation of structural health monitoring (SHM) systems that can continuously monitor critical components [4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion