An application for sensing the stress-induced localization of damage in the form of a discrete crack in a concrete substrate is developed using embedded PZT patches. Stress-wave measurements are obtained through the stages of damage localization leading to crack formation, propagation, and opening of the discrete, localized crack in the concrete. A self-compensating attenuation factor is proposed to quantify the changes in stress waves produced by the material discontinuity introduced by cracking in concrete. The attenuation factor measurements provide a sensitive indication of displacement discontinuity introduced by a crack in the stress wave path. Displacement discontinuity in concrete associated with a crack opening smaller than 10 μm in the loaded state is detected in the attenuation factor measurements even after the removal of stress. The embedded PZT sensors can continuously monitor concrete structures for indications of crack formation before visual indication.

使用嵌入式 PZT 贴片开发了一种应用，用于检测混凝土基材中离散裂纹形式的应力引起的损伤定位。应力波测量是通过损伤局部化阶段获得的，这些阶段导致混凝土中离散的局部裂纹的裂纹形成、传播和张开。提出了一种自补偿衰减因子来量化由混凝土开裂引入的材料不连续性产生的应力波的变化。衰减因子测量提供了由应力波路径中的裂纹引入的位移不连续性的敏感指示。即使在去除应力之后，在衰减因子测量中也可以检测到与加载状态下小于 10 μm 的裂缝开口相关的混凝土中的位移不连续性。