A novel and generalized approach for monitoring reinforcement corrosion cracks in full-scale reinforced concrete pipe using self-sensing cementitious sensors

Existing monitoring technologies for reinforced concrete pipes face significant challenges in achieving lifelong real-time monitoring. To overcome this limitation, a self-sensing cementitious sensor (SSCS) was developed. Owing to their durability and compatibility comparable to concrete, SSCS enables damage assessment and lifelong real-time monitoring, making them ideal for structural health monitoring (SHM) of concrete structures. To address this gap, a generalized crack monitoring method using SSCS was proposed. This method evaluates both the width and location of corrosion-induced cracks in reinforced concrete pipes. Firstly, a numerical simulation model of a full-scale pipe embedded with SSCS was established. A corresponding dataset of simulated electrical responses was generated, forming a generalized corrosion-crack monitoring method. Subsequently, to verify the generality of this method, the corrosion-induced crack states of the pipe were preliminarily monitored during the electric accelerated corrosion test using the electrical resistivity and fractional change in permeability electrical resistivity (FCPR) of the SSCS. Finally, cyclic external pressure tests were performed. The SSCS electrical responses were compared with the simulated dataset to determine the width and location of corrosion-induced cracks. The results demonstrated that the proposed monitoring method could effectively monitor the cracking state and accurately predict the location, with crack-width predictions exhibiting only minor deviations (MR = 0.96, SD = 4.13 %). Overall, SSCS provides an effective and generalized monitoring method for corrosion-induced cracks in underground reinforced concrete pipes.