Use of Carbon Cement–Based Sensors for Dynamic Monitoring of Structures

The chapter aims to report a summary about the state of the art of nanomodified structures, and describes an example focused on the characterization of electrical and electromechanical properties of nanomodified sensors. It utilizes smart cement paste sensors for the dynamic strain monitoring of a full-scale structural element. Carbon cement–based sensors represent a promising technology for the structural health monitoring of concrete buildings. Electromechanical tests were performed to evaluate the strain–sensing capability of each specimen. The chapter describes results obtained performing tests on small-scale structural elements entirely made with nanomodified cementitious material, subjected to different load cases. To investigate the behavior of nanocomposite cement-based sensors when they are embedded in a concrete structural element, seven specimens, previously calibrated, were inserted into a full-scale reinforced concrete beam during its molding. Experimental tests also demonstrated that cement-based nanomodified materials can be utilized as constituent materials for structural smart elements.