Description
This study delves into the potential of self-monitoring masonry components constructed with specialized mortars containing conductive carbon-based fillers. The primary objective is to assess their ability to autonomously evaluate their structural integrity. These innovative masonry elements are designed to produce an integrated monitoring system within a structure. This system can effectively identify and respond to changes in structural performance, such as partial damage, crack propagation due to structural anomalies, or significant events. The key to this self-monitoring capacity lies in the application of sensing mortars. These mortars can be used as the bedding material for masonry blocks. Through this approach, the study aims to characterize and determine the feasibility of these intelligent masonry structures, offering the unique ability to diagnose their own condition. Electromechanical tests on single components and more complex masonry structures allowed to optimize the materials and the building procedure, and to characterize the mechanical, electrical and sensing behaviour. In particular, compressive and bending tests have been coupled to electrical measurements through electrodes applied in the samples. The results of the work demonstrate the feasibility of the technology to be scaled to higher-scale structures.
