Embedded sensing system for continuous crack monitoring in concrete pavements

This project aims to initially develop a sensory system for PCP (plain concrete pavements), including strain, moisture, temperature and pH sensors placed at regular intervals for long term continuous monitoring of pavements cracks in real-time. The proposed discrete wireless sensors and single distributed optical fibre sensor lines give increased pavement coverage of 70% to develop a well-documented pavement condition-based maintenance regime. The advanced pavement condition monitoring system is expected to significantly reduce the TfNSW maintenance budget and cost to the public by creating better maintenance diaries and planning based on condition assessment of pavements. As such, the objectives are:
1) Model effective geometrical placements of the sensors in pavement slabs to provide optimal coverage across the pavement.
2) Development of a distributed, wireless, affordable and durable optical fibre and MEMS (micro electromechanical systems) strain sensors with long term sensing and data retrieval capabilities, together with temperature, moisture and pH sensors at regular intervals , which enable the detection of cracks at every stage of the project life cycle of PCP such as before handover, defects and liability period and continuing service life of the asset.
3) Through lab experiments, this project will prove the applicability of the technology for improved asset management by reducing the frequency of maintenance interventions by revising the intervention levels limits in the maintenance diaries set by current PCP maintenance guidelines.
This project will directly contribute to Program 2 of the SmartCrete CRC, Asset Management, in Sensor Solution Modelling and New Sensor System Development.