Near and Far Field Radio and Microwave Sensors for Moisture Content Estimation in Concrete Material
摘要
Since structural damage is largely caused by the presence of moisture in concrete, there is an increasing need for nondestructive testing techniques to identify and track moisture content. When compared to other nondestructive testing methods (like radiography, ultrasonic and eddy current), radio and microwave techniques offer clear advantages because of their low cost, high resolution, effective penetration in non-metallic materials and capability to test concrete with access to only one side of the material. In this study, we measured the dielectric characteristics of concrete using both radio (contact) and microwave antenna (non-contact) techniques. Three distinct water-to-cement ratios (w/c) of concrete samples were made and examined. From saturated to oven-dried samples, the concrete’s dielectric characteristics were assessed at different moisture contents. The dielectric constant rises with moisture content, according to the results of this study and concrete with lower w/c ratios showed higher dielectric values at equivalent moisture levels. The two electromagnetic sensors that were employed in this study show promise for determining the moisture content of concrete. Furthermore, a new model for estimating the moisture content of concrete was created, which may be used to evaluate the state and quality control of concrete durability.