Structural monitoring under extreme conditions
The next-generation materials, for the construction sector, will start our progression away from "heavy & brainless" structural parts and towards multifunctional products. Functionality will be incorporated into fiber-reinforced composites for sensor technology, energy storage and energy harvesting among others. Printed electronic active / passive sensors for structural control and real-time monitoring of structural behavior of fiber reinforced polymer composite materials will increase their exploitation extending operational lifetime, reliability and robustness well above from the current solutions available at the market.
Products with new functionalities through embedding printed electronics flexible sensors will allow ACI to differentiate from competitors by optimizing processing methods, energy consumption, and for monitoring its service life. This will continue to enhance their ever-increasing relevance for the construction and engineering industry. Furthermore, it will also allow these materials to move into unseen directions in these application sectors.
The implementation of embedded printed electronics will result in:
- 15% reduction of energy consumption in production of embedded components
- 20% increase in composite structures quality and 15% reduction on rework and waste.
- Over 15% decrease in inspection activity through embedding autonomous structure monitoring systems into composite building elements.
- Over 15% cost reduction during design, building and commissioning phase.
Phase 1
Structural monitoring under extreme conditions
Acciona wants to embed wireless sensors systems into their composite building elements. This will directly contribute to reduce maintenance costs and increase safety. Electronic functionalities include sensing, wireless data transfer and energy harvesting.
Phase 2
Structural monitoring under extreme conditions
Sensor-composite assembling and validation
A first step will be to verify sensor integrability. A series of pultrusion trials will be carried out - embedding temperature and RFID sensors in both glass and carbon fiber FRP composites.
