Detecting Cracks in Intelligent Carbon-Based TRC Elements Through Wetting Events

The current study presents an identification procedure to locate cracks within textile reinforced concrete (TRC) elements by their smart self-sensory capabilities. The study offers to integrate the Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR) analysis and the concept of smart water leakage detection methodology. By connecting a pair of carbon yarns to the data acquisition (DAQ) system and performing wetting events, the identification procedure monitors changes in the electrical characterization of the electrical circuit. The measured changes in the impedance spectrum are analysed by using the TDR technique and are correlated to the crack's location. It is presented that the proposed procedure enhances the sensing capabilities, particularly the range of the measurements, and enables to detect the location of cracks with relatively high accuracy.