Research on a 0–3 cement-based piezoelectric sensor with excellent mechanical–electrical response and good durability

Abstract

In this study, a novel cement-based piezoelectric sensor was prepared with 0–3 cement-based piezoelectric composites as the sensing element and a mixture consisting of epoxy resin and cement as the encapsulation part, and its mechanical–electrical response measurement was carried out by dynamic load. To realize effective load transmission from the structural material to the sensing element, and to better evaluate and improve the sensor durability, the optimum encapsulation system and sensing element location were explored, and the durability of the cement-based piezoelectric sensor under complicated conditions was studied in detail. Results indicated that the sensor possessed excellent linear performance, with the regression confidence exceeding 0.99 in a large range of 0.31–2.34 MPa, when the ratio of cement to epoxy resin was 3:1 and the sensing element was put in a position near the underside of the encapsulation material. The phase shift between the output voltage and input load was nearly zero and the sensor could respond to pulse load quickly. Environmental conditions including fatigue load and water had a negligible effect on the linearity and sensitivity (slope of fitting line) of the sensor, and in the intended temperature range of 0−40 °C the sensor showed good linearity, almost independent of temperature; nevertheless, the output voltage increased with increasing temperature and the sensitivity reached 1811 mV MPa−1 at 40 °C. Generally, the sensor prepared in this research had excellent mechanical–electrical response and good durability.

Cement-Based Piezoelectric Ceramic Composites for Sensing Elements: A Comprehensive State-of-the-Art Review

“…It holds a good performance to the dynamic mechanical signals input directly in beam, frame, and transporting simulation tests and exhibits excellent application potential in civil engineering. Considering the durability and stability of the CPCs sensor, Wang et al [ 115 ] investigated the location of the composite element in the sensor and characterized its mechanical–electrical responses in various conditions. The results showed that the sensor possessed excellent linear performance when the ratio of cement to epoxy resin was 3:1 and the sensing element was put in a position near the underside of the encapsulation material; the fatigue load and water had a negligible effect on its linearity and sensitivity, and in the intended temperature range (0~40 °C), the sensor showed good linearity, almost independent of temperature.…”

Electromechanical impact analysis of 2–2 cement-based piezoelectric sensor considering resistor

“…Yaphary et al (2016) verified that the output signals is highly consistent with the input mechanical loads. Wang et al (2014) conducted an experiment to verify that there is almost no phase difference between the obtained voltage and the external load. They also studied the ratio of materials to obtain the best sensing characteristics.…”

Dynamic Modelling of Embeddable Piezoceramic Transducers

“…A modeling approach was proposed to analyze the system stiffness and natural frequency behavior of a distributed compliant mechanism with embedded PZT actuators, using a general-purpose finite-element system [ 49 ]. The electromechanical coupling properties that were caused by the packaging manner and position of PZT were analyzed for cement-based PZT transducers [ 50 ]. The sensitivity of a type of embedded active PZT sensor in structural impact damage detection was studied via theoretical and experimental analyses, and a new embedded two-dimensional (2D) electromechanical impedance model, in which the PZT patch can be protected from external impacts or disturbances, was formulated [ 51 ].…”