Abstract
Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is a novel material with multiple known uses and many still yet to be discovered. Recently, the use of encasing welded shear studs in UHPC on the web of corroded steel beams was developed. This creates a bearing force transfer mechanism to bypass the corroded web plate. This new material and its uses come with many uncertainties in the short and long term. Structural health monitoring (SHM) can be a tool to observe the development. Specifically, radio frequency technology (RFID) can be used. RFID has existed commercially since the 1960s and has been used as a crack sensor before, but never with UHPC. RFID-based crack sensing is being used to monitor the UHPC retrofit. A crack is simulated on the UHPC specimen and then a commercial, low cost tag is secured. Using backscatter power, the tag reads the crack existence and its increasing volume with every new damage stage. Using a damage index, comparing the uncracked and each cracked stage, this method is not restricted to the raw received signal strength indicator (RSSI), which could be different at each tag. With this sensor, the small cracks that occur in UHPC during its creation can be monitored to ensure the capacity of the retrofitting is maintained. The tested RFID-based crack sensor can be used on various other forms of UHPC.
Highlights
The main goal of civil engineers is to design, build, and maintain infrastructure
Using a damage index, comparing the uncracked and each cracked stage, this method is not restricted to the raw received signal strength indicator (RSSI), which could be different at each tag
This paper shows the applicability of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags as crack sensors for Ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC)
Summary
The main goal of civil engineers is to design, build, and maintain infrastructure. The continued growth of our society is reliant on the transportation network and dependent on its integrity. Current retrofits like Kennedy’s increase the section size, which can cause unknown forces or transfer previous ones These retrofits are missing the SHM technology required for maximizing maintenance procedures in terms of time and these new forces. Previous research of crack sensors by Kalansuriya [13] and Martinez-Castro [14], while successful on both concrete and metallic materials, respectively, lacks the validation of testing with UHPC This system used passive RFID technology but with key modifications, such as the removal of the substrate material and the use of a volume-based index rather than just crack width and length like many other inspection procedures. By Zhang et al, outlines a system that can assess the condition of a structure through the use of RFID tags This system, while having been successfully tested on PVC tubes, lacks testing on UHPC. The total damage index showed the change in backscatter power and was used to quantify the results
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