Concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) members have been widely used in skyscrapers and long-span bridges. Non-uniformly distributed hydration heat during curing, inadequate compaction during construction and unavoidable shrinkage and creep of mass concrete in service most likely lead to interface debonding defects between concrete core and steel tube, which has been a common concern. The development of effective non-destructive inspection methods for interface bonding condition of existing CFST members is critical. In this study, an interface debonding defect detection method based on electromechanical impedance (EMI) measurement using surface-mounted piezoelectric-lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) sensors is proposed at first. Then, experimental study on the feasibility of the proposed approach is carried out with scaled CFST specimens with artificially mimicked interface debonding defects. EMI of surface-mounted PZT sensors at different frequency bands are measured and compared to verify the detectability of the proposed approach for the mimicked interface debonding defects. Thirdly, a multi-physics CFST-PZT coupling finite element model (FEM) with interface debonding defects is established, and EMI of surface-mounted PZT sensors at different locations is simulated. The influence of interface debonding defects on EMI measurements is illustrated. Finally, a blind inspection on the interface bonding condition of selected CFST columns in an existing skyscraper in service using the proposed approach is carried out. Both bonding and debonding defect in the tested CFST columns are detected correctly and validated with drilling hole observation. Experimental, numerical and engineering application results show the proposed approach is effective for interface debonding detection of CFST members and sensitive to minor debonding defect of 0.3 mm in CFST members.
AiDZhuH (2023) Adhesive curing effect of bonded piezoelectric transducer on electromechanical impedance-based concrete structural damage detection. Structural Health Monitoring22: 2214–2230.
2.
AiDLuoHZhuH (2019) Numerical and experimental investigation of flexural performance on pre-stressed concrete structures using electromechanical admittance. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing128: 244–265.
3.
AiDMoFYangF, et al. (2022) Electromechanical impedance-based concrete structural damage detection using principal component analysis incorporated with neural network. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures33: 2241–2256.
4.
BaptistaFBudoyaDAlmeidaV, et al. (2014) An experimental study on the effect of temperature on piezoelectric sensors for impedance-based structural health monitoring. Sensors14: 1208–1227.
5.
CaoPZhangYZhouK, et al. (2023) A reinforcement learning hyper-heuristic in multi-objective optimization with application to structural damage identification. Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization66: 16–34.
6.
CastanerMSMonniS (2020) Guided electromagnetic waves for damage detection and localization in metallic plates: numerical and experimental results. International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies12: 455–460.
7.
ChenHXuBMoY, et al. (2018a) Multi-scale stress wave simulation for aggregates segregation detection of concrete core in circular CFST coupled with PZT patches. Materials11: 1223.
8.
ChenHXuBMoYL, et al. (2018b) Behavior of meso-scale heterogeneous concrete under uniaxial tensile and compressive loadings. Construction and Building Materials178: 418–431.
9.
ChenHXuBWangJ, et al. (2019a) Interfacial debonding detection for rectangular CFST using the MASW method and its physical mechanism analysis at the meso-level. Sensors19: 2778.
10.
ChenHXuBZhouT, et al. (2019b) Debonding detection for rectangular CFST using surface wave measurement: test and multi-physical fields numerical simulation. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing117: 238–254.
11.
ChoiSTareenNKimJ, et al. (2018) Real-time strength monitoring for concrete structures using EMI technique incorporating with fuzzy logic. Applied Sciences8: 75.
12.
DugnaniR (2013) Monitoring adhesive integrity of disk-shaped transducer by electromechanical impedance. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures24: 1912–1923.
13.
FanX (2018) Electromechanical Impedance-Based Techniques for Structural Health Monitoring. PhD Thesis: Curtin University, AUS.
14.
FanXLiJHaoH (2016) Piezoelectric impedance based damage detection in truss bridges based on time frequency ARMA model. Smart Structures and Systems18: 501–523.
15.
FanXLiJHaoH (2021) Review of piezoelectric impedance based structural health monitoring: physics-based and data-driven methods. Advances in Structural Engineering24: 3609–3626.
16.
FengMQDe FlaviisFKimYJ (2002) Use of microwaves for damage detection of fiber reinforced polymer-wrapped concrete structures. Journal of Engineering Mechanics128: 172–183.
17.
GulizziVRizzoPMilazzoA (2014) Electromechanical impedance method for the health monitoring of bonded joints: numerical modelling and experimental validation. Structural Durability & Health Monitoring10: 19–54.
18.
HamzelooSRShamshirsazMRezaeiSM (2012) Damage detection on hollow cylinders by electro-mechanical impedance method: experiments and finite element modeling. Comptes Rendus Mecanique340: 668–677.
19.
HsiehCLinY (2016) Detecting debonding flaws at the epoxy–concrete interfaces in near-surface mounted CFRP strengthening beams using the impact–echo method. NDT & E International83: 1–13.
20.
KuangJXuB (2012) Local damage detection for steel rebar by impedance measurements of PZT sensors. In: ShenzhenC (ed) SPIE, Asia Pacific Committee of Smart and Nano Materials; Chinese Society of Composite Materials; et al. National Institute of Standards and Technology; The National Natural Science Foundation of China. Singapore: Nanyang Technol Univ.
21.
LiWLiuTZouD, et al. (2019) PZT based smart corrosion coupon using electromechanical impedance. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing129: 455–469.
22.
LiZLiuXLuH, et al. (2020) Surface crack detection in precasted slab track in high-speed rail via infrared thermography. Materials13: 4837.
23.
LiLJiaoJGaoX, et al. (2022) A review on nondestructive testing of bonding interface using nonlinear ultrasonic technique. Kexue Tongbao/Chinese Science Bulletin67: 621–629.
24.
LiangCSunFPRogersCA (1997) Coupled electro-mechanical analysis of adaptive material systems - determination of the actuator power consumption and system energy transfer. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures8: 335–343.
25.
LuanLXuBChenH, et al. (2021) Local wave propagation analysis in concrete-filled steel tubes with spectral element method using absorbing layers – Part II: application in coupling system. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing146: 107004.
26.
MarkovicNNestorovicTStojicD (2015) Numerical modeling of damage detection in concrete beams using piezoelectric patches. Mechanics Research Communications64: 15–22.
27.
MoslehyYGuHBelarbiA, et al. (2010) Smart aggregate based damage detection of circular RC columns under cyclic combined loading. Smart Materials and Structures19: 65021.
28.
NaWSBaekJ (2018) A review of the piezoelectric electromechanical impedance based structural health monitoring technique for engineering structures. Sensors18: 1370.
29.
NaghipourMKhaliliAHasaniS, et al. (2022) Experimental investigation of natural bond behavior in circular CFTs. Steel and Composite Structures42: 191–207.
30.
NarayananAKocherlaASubramaniamKVL (2018) PZT sensor array for local and distributed measurements of localized cracking in concrete. Smart Materials and Structures27: 75049.
31.
QiuQ (2020) Imaging techniques for defect detection of fiber reinforced polymer bonded civil infrastructures. Structural Control and Health Monitoring27: 2555.
32.
SikdarSSinghSKMalinowskiP, et al. (2022) Electromechanical impedance based debond localisation in a composite sandwich structure. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures33: 1487–1496.
33.
SuYHanGNantungT, et al. (2020) Novel methodology on direct extraction of the strength information from cementitious materials using piezo-sensor based electromechanical impedance (EMI) method. Construction and Building Materials259: 119848.
34.
SunFPChaudhryZLiangC, et al. (1995) Truss structure integrity identification using PZT sensor-actuator. Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures6: 134–139.
35.
TsengKKHNaiduASK (2002) Non-parametric damage detection and characterization using smart piezoceramic material. Smart Materials and Structures11: 317–329.
36.
WangDSongHZhuH (2013) Numerical and experimental studies on damage detection of a concrete beam based on PZT admittances and correlation coefficient. Construction and Building Materials49: 564–574.
37.
WangXFanFLaiJ (2022) Strength behavior of circular concrete-filled steel tube stub columns under axial compression: a review. Construction and Building Materials322: 126144.
38.
WangJXuBChenH, et al. (2022a) Mesoscale numerical analysis and test on the effect of debonding defect of rectangular CFSTs on wave propagation with a homogenization method. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing163: 108135.
39.
WangJXuBChenH, et al. (2022b) Multi-physics mesoscale substructure analysis on stress wave measurement within CFST-PZT coupling models for interface debonding detection. Sensors22: 1039.
40.
WuFChangF (2006) Debond detection using embedded piezoelectric elements in reinforced concrete structures - Part I: experiment. Structural Health Monitoring5: 5–15.
41.
XuBZhangTSongG, et al. (2013) Active interface debonding detection of a concrete-filled steel tube with piezoelectric technologies using wavelet packet analysis. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing36(1): 7–17.
42.
XuBChenHXiaS (2017) Numerical study on the mechanism of active interfacial debonding detection for rectangular CFSTs based on wavelet packet analysis with piezoceramics. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing86: 108–121.
43.
XuBLuanLChenH, et al. (2018a) Numerical study on interface debonding detection mechanisms with 2D spectral element method for concrete-filled steel tube using embedded PZT sensor. Smart Materials and Structures27: 125008.
44.
XuBChenHMoYL, et al. (2018b) Dominance of debonding defect of CFST on PZT sensor response considering the meso-scale structure of concrete with multi-scale simulation. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing107: 515–528.
45.
XuBLuanLChenH, et al. (2020) Local wave propagation analysis in concrete-filled steel tube with spectral element method using absorbing layers – Part I: approach and validation. Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing140: 106644.
46.
XueJZhangYBriseghellaB, et al. (2020). In: ArêdeACostaC (eds) Experimental Research on Effects of Debonding on Circular CFST Columns with Different Slenderness Ratios. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 369–377.
47.
ZhangJChenDZhengY, et al. (2020) Piezoelectric transducers-based curing monitoring of resin matrix composites. Fuhe Cailiao Xuebao/Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica37: 2776–2781.
