New Concrete Can Monitor Itself

n this article, the author discusses the failure of the New Orleans levees during the storm surges of Hurricane Katrina. In order to provide more accurate monitoring of these levees, researchers have been working on a “smart concrete” that incorporates small carbon fibers into the concrete mix. Although carbon fiber is generally introduced into concrete in order to provide strength, this new technology uses a voltmeter to gauge the resistance that the electricity-conducting fibers provide. When concrete is in proper compression, the resistance of the introduced electrical current will be low; however, when internal or external cracks begin to form, the electrical resistance increases greatly. This form of detection is far more accurate than data obtained by conventional sensors, and also gives a larger scope than sensors which gather information externally. The article also asserts that this technology could have roadway applications, allowing researchers to determine the number of vehicles traveling on a particular passageway. The inventor predicts that smart concrete will cost about 30 percent more than conventional concrete.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Authors:
  • Hansen, Brett
• Publication Date: 2005-11

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: p 35
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Volume: 75
  • Issue Number: 11
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Carbon fibers; Concrete; Sensors; Smart materials
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I32: Concrete;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01018550
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 19 2006 7:34AM