A Novel TDR-Based Coaxial Cable Sensor for Crack/Strain Sensing in Reinforced Concrete Structures

Shishuang Sun
David Pommerenke, Missouri University of Science and Technology
James L. Drewniak, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Genda Chen, Missouri University of Science and Technology
Liang Xue
Michael A. Brower
Marina Koledintseva, Missouri University of Science and Technology

This document has been relocated to http://scholarsmine.mst.edu/ele_comeng_facwork/1390

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Abstract

Novel coaxial cable sensors that feature high sensitivity and high spatial resolution are developed for health monitoring of concrete structures using a time-domain reflectometry (TDR). The new sensor was designed based on the topology change of its outer conductor, which was fabricated with tightly wrapped commercial tin-plated steel spiral covered with solder. The cracks that developed within concrete structures will lead to out-of-contact of local steel spirals. This topology change results in a large impedance discontinuity that can be measured with a TDR. A simplified equivalent transmission line model and numerical full-wave simulations using finite-difference time-domain techniques were used to optimize the sensor design. The sensors under test demonstrated high sensitivity and the capability of multiple-crack detection. A plasma-sprayed coating technique was employed to improve sensor uniformity. Engineering implementation issues, e.g., signal loss, signal postprocessing, and sensor design optimization, were also addressed.