Piezoelectric actuator/sensor wave propagation based nondestructive active monitoring method of concrete structures

Abstract

In order to monitor the basic mechanical properties and interior damage of concrete structures, the piezoelectric actuator/sensor based wave propagation method was investigated experimentally in the laboratory using a specifically designed test setup. The energy attenuation of stress waves was measured by the relative index between the output voltage of sensors and the excitation voltage at the actuator. Based on the experimental results of concrete cube and cylinder specimens, the effect of excitation frequencies, excitation amplitude, wave propagation paths and the curing age on the output signals of sensors are evaluated. The results show that the relative voltage attenuation coefficient RVAC is an effective indicator for measuring the attenuation of stress waves through the interior of concrete.

Keywords

piezoceramics actuator/sensor / wave propagation method / non-destructive evaluation (NDE) / active monitoring / concrete

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