https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-021-01879-x
Regular Article
Effective properties and sensing capabilities of cement-based porous piezocomposites: a comparative study
1
School of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, 175005, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India
2
School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Avenue, 639798, Singapore, Singapore
3
Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box: 2455, 11451, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Received:
11
September
2020
Accepted:
16
August
2021
Published online:
9
September
2021
Finite element study was conducted on porous cement-based 0–3 piezocomposite materials to calculate their effective properties and predict their sensing capabilities. Piezoelectric materials used are 
(KNNLT), 
(BT), 
(PZT-5A) and 
. Effective elastic and piezoelectric properties of the porous cement-based piezocomposites were calculated using representative volume element approach along with suitable boundary conditions. Pores in the cement matrix are modelled as air inclusions. The elastic and piezoelectric properties were found to increase with an increase in the volume fraction of the piezoelectric material within the cement matrix. On the other hand, these properties were found to decrease with an increase in volume fraction of pores within the cement matrix. The calculated effective properties data were used to analyse the possible use of this materials for sensing application. Maximum sensing voltage was obtained at natural frequency of vibration of the structure. 
demonstrated maximum voltage of 
at 
porosity and 
inclusion by volume fraction. For the remaining material, the maximum sensing voltage was found to be around 
of the maximum voltage obtained from . Maximum sensing voltage increased with an increase in volume fraction of piezoelectric inclusion and decreased with an increase in volume fraction of the pores. Maximum percentage drop in voltage was observed in 
at all inclusion volume fraction. demonstrated least percentage drop in voltage with porosity at different inclusions. 
and demonstrated about 
and 
drop in voltage with porosity at piezoelectric inclusion by volume fraction. At other inclusion volume fractions, the drop in voltage was found to be negligible.
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2021
