APPLICATION OF SURFACE ACOUSTIC WAVE SENSORS FOR CORROSION MONITORING OF STEEL IN CONCRETE

摘要

Corrosion monitoring of steel-reinforced concrete structures with embedded sensors require sensor operations lasting several decades. Many corrosion sensors use probes of material similar to the reinforcing metal that require routing electrical wires to the concrete exterior that may degrade or become damaged. Other sensors require electrochemical electrodes that degrade in time or require recalibration. Surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors have been developed and have been presented for application in corrosion monitoring of steel-reinforced concrete structures. SAW sensors are wireless and require no local power which is promising for extended term durability while embedded in concrete structures. The passive electronic components were designed to be chemically isolated from the environmental exposure by a conformal coating yet still maintain RF signal transmission. An approach to implement SAW sensors and preliminary testing of sensor materials in concrete environments are presented.