Abstract
This project develops prefabricated smart textile reinforcement grids (STR grids) with integrated fiber-optic and environmental sensors for the strengthening and lifetime monitoring of existing concrete infrastructure. The sensorized reinforcement grids are robotically installed onto existing concrete structures and encapsulated within a thin sprayed-concrete overlay, creating intelligent strengthening layers that simultaneously increase structural capacity and provide continuous structural health monitoring.
The STR grids combine distributed fiber-optic sensing for high-resolution, two-dimensional strain measurements with nanomaterial-based sensors for monitoring moisture, chloride ingress, and pH. By fusing structural and environmental sensing data, the system enables automated condition assessment, predictive maintenance, and digital lifetime management. Highly flexible textile manufacturing technologies further allow load-adapted reinforcement layouts with seamlessly integrated sensing functionalities.
The concept is validated through laboratory-scale experiments under representative mechanical and environmental loading conditions. By combining robotic strengthening, multifunctional textile reinforcement, embedded sensing, and digital data integration, the project directly contributes to CARE by enabling intelligent, resource-efficient rehabilitation of concrete infrastructure and providing the data foundation for predictive lifecycle management and more resilient built environments.
