Optimization of sensor location and method analyzing for in-situ monitoring of concrete containment structures: a case involving embedded moisture sensors

This paper deals with the development of concrete water content measuring devices for nuclear civil structures. It proposes a theoretical method to estimate the measurement uncertainty of the monitoring system needed to improve the predictions of the long-term behavior of prestressed concrete containment structures. Assuming a basic model for concrete drying, the errors regarding its parameters calibration when using different sensors arrangements are compared to figure out what are the most suitable systems and what are the devices specifications needed to actually improve the predictions. It turns out that current water content monitoring device should be improved to get a better benefit to containment ageing management. In particular, the measurement uncertainty should be enhanced to enable more relevant concrete creep prediction at the end of containment building lifetime. However, an extensive spatial sampling of the moisture profiles can compensate somehow current lack of water content devices for concrete monitoring.