Research on the Electrosensitivity and Electrothermal Properties of Intelligent High-Performance Concrete Materials

Materials (Basel). 2023 Dec 22;17(1):54. doi: 10.3390/ma17010054.

Abstract

In order to enhance traditional building materials, High-performance concrete (HPC) is being modified by adding carbon and basalt fibers with volume contents of 0.75-1.25% and 0.15-0.35%, respectively. The original mechanical properties are maintained while developing the material's intelligent self-sensing and self-heating functions, which are tested for pressure sensitivity and bending sensitivity, and with electrothermal tests. The results demonstrate that carbon fiber can significantly reduce the matrix resistivity of high-performance concrete, reaching the percolation threshold at a content of 1%. The inclusion of basalt fibers in the material results in a decrease in resistivity. However, the addition of mixed fibers leads to improved mechanical-electrical sensitivity under compression and bending, with a positive hybrid effect. The optimal contents for carbon fiber and basalt are 0.75% and 0.3%, respectively. In electrothermal tests, the specimen can reach a temperature of 104.5 °C with a heating rate of 25.86 °C/h, indicating the potential for self-monitoring and the electric melting of ice and snow. These findings provide support for the intelligent improvement of building structures in the new era.

Keywords: basalt fiber; carbon fiber; electrothermal property; high-performance concrete; resistivity; self-sensing property.