In various applications, a  combination of constructive reinforcement and electrical conductivity can be interesting.  

For example, conductive carbon reinforcements can be used to heat concrete surfaces, which can be interesting when de-icing runways or loading ramps.

With conductive carbon concrete reinforcement, reinforced concrete can also be protected against further corrosion. Conventional  cathodic corrosion protection systems (PPS)use titanium meshes or strips, which are very expensive. Flexible reinforcing grilles made of conductive carbon fibers  can in some cases replace titanium meshes.

To monitor ingress of moisture in reinforced concrete structures, two layers of conductive carbon reinforcement can be arranged in the concrete cover or in an additional carbon concrete layer. The electrolyte resistance of the concrete can be measured in between using the carbon reinforcements and thus an increase in moisture can be indicated.

The two functions mentioned above have been extensively investigated in recent years as part of the SMARTDECK research project with the participation of solidian. The project combined the three functions of strengthening, monitoring and preventive cathodic corrosion protection (PKKS).  For this purpose, solidian has made high-bearing reinforcement grids sufficiently conductive in its own development work and pre-assembled the required two layers of reinforcement with spacers. The concept was successfully tested in summer 2019  on a bridge building near Mönchengladbach.

More information:

• Researchgate.net: SMART‐DECK: Multifunctional carbon‐reinforced concrete interlayer for bridges
• bast – Federal Highway Administration (Germany): SMART-DECK – ein multifunktionales, intelligentes Verstärkungs- und Schutzsystem