Effect of PVA fiber on the self-sensing behavior of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based sensors under cyclic flexural loading.

• Self-sensing property of cement-based sensors under flexural load is unsatisfactory. • PVA fibers increase the electrical resistivity of cement-based sensors. • PVA fibers enhance stress–strain sensing of cement-based sensors under flexural load. Cement-based sensors have great potential for structural health monitoring, especially carbon fiber filled functional sensors. In order to improve the sensing efficiency of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based sensors under cyclic flexural loading, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers were incorporated into cement-based sensors. The PVA fibers, although increasing the electrical resistivity, significantly improved the strain and stress self-sensing properties of carbon fiber reinforced cement-based sensors under cyclic flexural loading. This study provides a new way to accurately measure the parameters of cement-based sensors under cyclic flexural loading. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]