Concurrent Prospects to Develop Activated Charcoal Reinforced Self-Sensing Cement Composites for Structural Health Monitoring Applications

This research examines the electromechanical characteristics of self-sensing cement composite (SCC) containing activated charcoal (AC) at various concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, and 25%). The developed composite is placed in various zones in the beam to monitor beam behaviour, as well as in the column center to monitor column deflection. The research reveals that AC reduced the compressive strength and resistivity of cement composites by generating local hydration and carbon accumulation. The performance index approach optimizes AC concentrations at 25% and 20% without and with 10% silica fume (SF), respectively. The embedded SCC has monitored the deflection of beams and columns with a maximum correlation between electrical resistivity and deflection at 99% and 96%, respectively. According to the findings, the AC can generate SCC, which might be utilized to monitor the deflection of beams and columns.