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The study examines the use of hybrid carbon-based textile-reinforced concrete elements with self-sensing capabilities to quantitatively detect wetting events within cracked zones. The self-sensory structural element combines the advantages of AR-glass and carbon-based textile-reinforced concrete for thin-walled structural elements with those stemming from the electrical properties of reinforced carbon rovings. The article investigates the sensitivity of sensory carbon rovings to distinguish between the magnitudes of various wetting events, which is associated with the severity of the cracking, according to two electrical setups (DC and AC circuits). The sensing concept takes advantage of the continuous configuration of the carbon rovings, which enables direct connection of the roving ends to the data acquisition system, and of the manufacturing process that two carbon rovings are placed adjacent to one another. Therefore, it is assumed that wetting events electrically short-circuit the two adjacent rovings. The sensitivity of the two electrical setups is experimentally investigated and performed on a couple of bared carbon rovings and on a cracked textile-reinforced concrete beam. Test results demonstrate the sensitivity of the sensing capabilities of the carbon rovings to detect and distinguish between the magnitudes of the wetting events and consequently the severity of the cracking.

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The study investigates the capabilities of various configurations of self-sensory carbon-based textiles to detect and distinguish between the severity of water infiltration through cracked zones along textile reinforced concrete (TRC) elements. The investigation aims to explore whether an optimal smart textile configuration can improve the structural performance while providing sensitive sensory capabilities. Such an investigation is needed for the development of intelligent TRC structures. Specifically, the study experimentally investigates the effect of two types of bindings and the effect of coating on the mutual structural-sensory performances. The sensory concept is based on changes of the electrical mechanism of two adjacent carbon rovings due to infiltration of water through cracked zones. Eight TRC beam samples were cast and mechanically loaded up to cracking. The cracked zones were monitored, and each zone was separately examined by performing a wetting event. It is demonstrated that the type of binding and coating, which significantly affect the structural response, reflect and affect the measured electrical signal. It is found that there is a tradeoff mechanism between the structural response and the sensory capabilities. While specific textile configuration improves the structural performance, it may reduce its sensory capability to distinguish between the magnitude of water infiltration.