PSI - Issue 64

M. Komary et al. / Procedia Structural Integrity 64 (2024) 1311–1317 Mahyad Komary/ Structural Integrity Procedia 00 (2019) 000 – 000

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future research should focus on improving the sealing technique to ensure the accurate capture of relative humidity values within the concrete. The significance of the findings lies in the successful demonstration of real-time monitoring capabilities using low cost sensors, which can provide valuable data for early-stage concrete monitoring. The system's operation was effective, with the sensors showing good accuracy and repeatability in the readings. One challenge noted was the disparity in conditions between the internal and external environments of the concrete, which underscores the need for careful interpretation of sensor data when assessing concrete health. Upon transferring the specimens into the climate chamber after 24 hours from the casting with consistent conditions outlined in Section 3.1, the temperature and humidity values captured by the sensors stabilized (shown in figure 3), demonstrating the system's sensitivity to environmental control. However, challenges were noted with the sealed sensor's long-term stability and accuracy, highlighted by the high inside humidity reading post-curing, which indicated possible moisture ingress and sensor malfunction. This emphasizes the necessity for improved sensor encapsulation and reliability in data collection.

Fig. 3. Temperature and Humidity changes over 24 hours period inside of the climate chamber 1 day after the casting (print screen from the UI).

These results reinforce the potential of low-cost IoT systems in SHM, particularly for real-time monitoring of conditions that may lead to corrosion, and set the direction for future research to include corrosion detection and assess long-term sensor performance in adverse conditions. 5. Conclusion The study confirmed the efficacy of a low-cost IoT-based sensor system for monitoring the early stages of concrete curing. The DHT22 sensors effectively tracked temperature and humidity, capturing essential data on the exothermic reactions and moisture conditions during initial curing. The specimens' subsequent transition to a climate chamber showcased the system's versatility in adapting to and accurately measuring a controlled environment. The research emphasizes the substantial promise of low-cost IoT sensors in SHM, offering economical continuous monitoring of parameters critical to concrete's structural integrity. This capability enhances material quality assurance and paves the way for predictive maintenance strategies. The findings suggest expansive future SHM applications, with potential for sensor functionality to include parameters related to corrosion monitoring. This research affirms the practicality of implementing IoT technologies in civil engineering, heralding progress in the sustainability and longevity of concrete infrastructure.