Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering (MSE)

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Philip Park

Second Advisor

Chu-Lin Cheng

Third Advisor

Jinwoo An

Abstract

This thesis explores the feasibility of using Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) for detecting damage in cementitious composites. Cementitious composites, such as concrete and cement mortar, are insulating; any conductive properties arise from the moisture within their pores and capillary structures. The proposed concept herein is that formed internal damages in cementitious composites consequently alter their pore and capillary structure, which can then be detected through EIT imaging. To construct tomographic images, the Gaussian Newton (GN) reconstruction algorithm, enhanced with priors, was employed. The results were then compared across different reconstruction processes. Cylindrical cement pastes and cement mortar samples were prepared, with their pore and capillary structures controlled by air entrainers. The variations in conductivity with temperature and moisture conditions were investigated, demonstrating a positive correlation between conductivity and tested temperatures. Additionally, the ability of EIT to detect cracks demonstrates the promising potential for damage detection in cementitious composites.

Comments

Copyright 2024 Hugo Zazueta. https://proquest.com/docview/3115325028

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