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Review
. 2023 Jan 12;16(2):768.
doi: 10.3390/ma16020768.

Piezoresistivity and AC Impedance Spectroscopy of Cement-Based Sensors: Basic Concepts, Interpretation, and Perspective

Amir A E Elseady  1 , Ivan Lee  1 , Yan Zhuge  1 , Xing Ma  1 , Christopher W K Chow  1 , Nima Gorjian  2
Affiliations
Review

Piezoresistivity and AC Impedance Spectroscopy of Cement-Based Sensors: Basic Concepts, Interpretation, and Perspective

Amir A E Elseady et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

Cement-based sensors include conductive fillers to achieve a sensing capability based on the piezoresistivity phenomenon, in which the electrical resistivity changes with strain. The microstructural characterisation of cement-based sensors can be obtained using a promising non-destructive technique, such as AC impedance spectroscopy (ACIS), which has been recently used by many researchers. This paper reviews the fundamental concepts of piezoresistivity and ACIS in addition to the comparison of equivalent circuit models of cement-based sensors found in the literature. These concepts include piezoresistivity theory, factors affecting piezoresistivity measurement, resistance measurement methodology, strain/damage sensing, causes of piezoresistivity, theories of conduction, AC impedance spectroscopy theory, and the equivalent circuit model. This review aims to provide a comprehensive guide for researchers and practitioners interested in exploring and applying different techniques to self-sensing concrete.

Keywords: AC impedance spectroscopy (ACIS); cement-based sensors; equivalent circuit model; piezoresistivity; self-sensing concrete; structural health monitoring.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(a) Structural health monitoring (SHM) directions; (b) Cement-based sensors embedded in RC beams; (c) Cement-based sensors embedded in RC plates [13].
Figure 2
Figure 2
The difference between reversible and irreversible behaviours of electrical resistivity under compressive loading: (a) reversible behaviour; (b) irreversible behaviour [73].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Different electrode configurations for resistance measurement in the cementitious matrix: (a) two-probe technique; (b) four-probe technique.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The effect of DC and AC on the electrical resistance measurement of the cement-based sensors: (a) DC power source; (b) conductive path simulation; (c) AC power source.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of NGPs dosage on the fractional change in resistivity under compressive loading: (a) without NGPs; (b) with 2% NGPs; (c) with 6% NGPs [73].
Figure 6
Figure 6
The cause of piezoresistivity in a cement-based matrix containing short carbon fibres [58,116].
Figure 7
Figure 7
The relationship between the filler dosage and the electrical resistivity without externally applied loads.
Figure 8
Figure 8
The relationship between the fractional change in resistance and filler concentration under externally compressive loading: (a) zone 1; (b) zone 2; (c) zone 3; (d) zone 4; (e) zone 5.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Fundamentals of impedance spectroscopy: (a) the voltage-current relationship; (b) a complex plane (the Nyquist plot) [148].
Figure 10
Figure 10
(a) a simple AC circuit (RLC) with a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor in series; (b) the phase shift (𝜃 = 0 for a resistor; 𝜃 = +90° for a capacitor; 𝜃 = −90° for an inductor).
Figure 11
Figure 11
Complex plans (Nyquist plots) of typical ACIS plots for different combinations of a resistor, a capacitor, and an inductor: (a) the representation of a resistor; (b) the representation of a capacitor; (c) the representation of an inductor; (d) the representation of a capacitor and a resistor in series; (e) the representation of a capacitor and a resistor in parallel; (f) the representation of a constant phase element (CPE).
Figure 12
Figure 12
The equivalent circuit model of McCarter [150] and its representation on the complex plane.
Figure 13
Figure 13
The cement-based microstructural analysis using ACIS.
Figure 14
Figure 14
The equivalent circuit model and the corresponding physical meaning in the case of cement-based materials: (a) the preparation of a cement-based sample; (b) the electrical representation of stray impedance; (c) the simulation of DCP and CCP; (d) the equivalent circuit model; (e) the simulation of closed pores.
Figure 15
Figure 15
Nyquist plots of the cement-based samples of McCarter [150] over a period of 1, 10, and 100 days.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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