Development and Experimental Study of a Self-Aware Posttensioned Prestressed Intelligent Reinforcement Structure

A self-aware posttensioned prestressing intelligent reinforcement system with force and sensors is proposed by combining the advantages of posttensioned prestressing reinforcement technology and intelligent structure. A static test study is then conducted with brick masonry members (wall pieces) as reinforcement objects. The experimental results demonstrate that the intelligent strand can be deployed using the same process, tensioning apparatus, and anchoring equipment as ordinary strand. Furthermore, the mechanical performance indexes with and without intelligent strands are very close, and the differences in percentages of cracking load, cracking displacement, yielding load, yielding displacement, ultimate load, and ultimate displacement are 20%, 9%, 9%, 10%, 2%, and 26%.