Document Type
Professional Conference
Semester of Graduation
Spring 2026
Abstract
Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC) is an advanced concrete material known for its strength and durability. Its superior mechanical properties make it an ideal material for demanding structural applications such as bridges. Accurate setting time measurements are crucial in helping to optimise the performance of UHPC. All conventional methods and standards for measuring the setting time of concrete rely on using expensive specialised equipment, such as the Vicat apparatus, which assesses penetration depth or resistance. However, these methods may not be well-suited for UHPC due to its rapid surface drying while the interior remains fresh. This prevents free needle penetration and leads to overestimated setting time. Therefore, mitigating or eliminating the rapid surface drying effect is necessary for measuring a reliable setting time for UHPC. In addition, conventional methods come with some other challenges for UHPC, such as concrete sticking to the Vicat needle, which causes erroneous data to be collected. This proposal aims to address these problems by using a smart sensing system including piezoelectric, temperature, and water content sensors to measure the setting time of UHPC. A piezoelectric sensor vibrates with the host material, and its vibration is influenced by the material’s stiffness, producing distinct admittance and phase angle spectrums. By sweeping an AC signal through a piezoelectric sensor, the electromechanical impedance (EMI) spectrum can be recorded. Changes in this spectrum can be used to deduce the hardness of the concrete. Resonant peaks in the EMI spectrum will be mapped and tracked against concrete setting time measurements obtained using a Vicat machine, establishing a calibration dataset. Embedded temperature sensors will capture the concrete’s hydration curve during curing, while water content sensors provide additional data to help correlate hydration with setting time. Together with the piezoelectric sensors, this method offers a more reliable and cost-effective alternative for monitoring UHPC setting time.
Recommended Citation
Atera, T., Taj, K., & Su, Y. (2026). Innovative Smart Sensing System for Accurate Monitoring of UHPC Setting Time. Retrieved from https://repository.lsu.edu/discover_dur/37
Awardee Name
Ted Atera
Academic Major
Electrical Engineering
Project Mentor
Yen-Fang Su