State-of-the-art of self-sensing cement composite materials and its sensors

Self-sensing cement composite material, which is mainly composed of special conducting material or nano-particle and traditional cement or mortar, is a new kind of material with piezoresistive effect. Using special performance of this material, that specific resistance and compressive stress possessing corresponding relationship, a new kind of sensor can be made. As having character of low cost, high durability and good compatibility with concrete, sensors made with self-sensing cement composite material, are potential to be used in long time health monitor of concrete structures. In this paper, the general situation of self-sensing cement composite material including select and treatment of raw material, manufacture technology, electrode design, resistance test method and test system of standard sensor of self-sensing cement, was summarized. Based on this, the key problems, such as stability and divergence of specific resistance of self-sensing cement, optimization of raw material and their match, that should be further resolved for promoting these sensors using in reality engineering were discussed.