Design of CB-PDMS Flexible Sensing for Monitoring of Bridge Cracks

Abstract

This paper proposes a flexible sensor for detecting cracks on bridges. Strain and deflection sensing modules are integrated on the film that is made of composite conductive materials. By optimizing the preparation ratio and internal structure, the strain detection accuracy and sensitivity of the sensor have been improved. The bridge crack detection accuracy reached 91%, which is higher than current sensors. Experimental results show that the composite material containing 2.23 wt% carbon black (CB) mixed hybrid filler has good linearity, higher accuracy than sensors in use, excellent stretchability (>155%), high gauge factor (GF ~ 43.3), and excellent durability over 2000 stretching-releasing cycles under 10 N. The designed flexible sensor demonstrates the practicality and effectiveness of bridge crack detection and provides a feasible solution for accurate bridge health monitoring in the future.