Advancing carbon nanomaterials-engineered self-sensing cement composites for structural health monitoring: A state-of-the-art review

Cement concrete is a ubiquitous material used extensively in infrastructure worldwide. However, cement concrete would degrade during its long-term service life. The limited real-time detection tools and condition assessment techniques lead to safety risks, and thus shorten the service life of concrete infrastructures and affect their resilience. To address this issue, the development of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNMs)-based self-sensing cement composites (SSCC) has emerged as a promising solution. SSCC, in the form of cement-based sensors, utilize nanotechnology to enable in-situ monitoring of stress/strain and microcrack development by measuring electrical signal. Compared to traditional embedded sensors for concrete infrastructure structural health monitoring, SSCC offer several advantages, including high sensitivity, natural compatibility, and ease of maintenance. The application of SSCC in infrastructures can enhance their resilience by improving the safety and sustainability of concrete structures. This review provides an overview of the latest developments in CNMs-based SSCC preparation, measurement of sensing signals, self-sensing ability, and typical structural applications in infrastructures. It also discusses the future challenges and opportunities of CNMs-based SSCC in enhancing the resilience of concrete infrastructures, including its potential to contribute to more efficient and effective infrastructure management and maintenance. This review serves as a reference to pave the way towards building cities with high resilience.