Intrinsic self-sensing concrete and structures: A review

•The research progress of the intrinsic self-sensing concrete (ISSC) is reviewed.•ISSC materials and their structural applications are systematically presented.•Future challenges in the development and applications of the ISSC are discussed.

Intrinsic self-sensing concrete (ISSC) refers to a structural material that can monitor itself without the need of embedded, attached or remote sensors. By measuring electrical resistance of the ISSC, the stress, strain, crack and damage can be in situ monitored. Compared with conventional structural materials which require additional sensors for monitoring or detection, the ISSC is advantageous in its high sensitivity, good mechanical property, natural compatibility, identical lifespan with concrete and easy installation and maintenance. The ISSC can be used for structural health monitoring, traffic detection and border/military security. In this paper, we systematically introduce research progress of the ISSC, with attentions to its compositions, fabrication methods, sensing signal testing methods, sensing properties and generation mechanism, and structural applications. Future challenges in the development and applications of the ISSC are also discussed.

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