{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,25]],"date-time":"2026-04-25T05:13:06Z","timestamp":1777093986018,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":21,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,26]],"date-time":"2019-11-26T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1574726400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004144","name":"Liverpool John Moores University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["Pump Priming Award"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["Pump Priming Award"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004144","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This paper investigates the possibility of applying novel microwave sensors for crack detection in reinforced concrete structures. Initially, a microstrip patch antenna with a split ring resonator (SRR) structure was designed, simulated and fabricated. To evaluate the sensor\u2019s performance, a series of structural tests were carried out and the sensor responses were monitored. Four reinforced concrete (RC) beam specimens, designed according to the European Standards, were tested under three-point bending. The load was applied incrementally to the beams and the static responses were monitored via the use of a load cell, displacement transducers and crack width gauges (Demec studs). In parallel, signal readings from the microwave sensors, which were employed prior to the casting of the concrete and located along the neutral axis at the mid-span of the beam, were recorded at various load increments. The microwave measurements were analysed and compared with those from crack width gauges. A strong linear relationship between the crack propagation and the electromagnetic signal across the full captured spectrum was found, demonstrating the technique\u2019s capability and its potential for further research, offering a reliable, low-cost option for structural health monitoring (SHM).<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s19235175","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,26]],"date-time":"2019-11-26T10:57:27Z","timestamp":1574765847000},"page":"5175","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":94,"title":["Novel Electromagnetic Sensors Embedded in Reinforced Concrete Beams for Crack Detection"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"19","author":[{"given":"Michaela","family":"Gkantou","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5526-632X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Magomed","family":"Muradov","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK"},{"name":"Sensor City Liverpool Limited, 31 Russell Street, Liverpool L3 5LJ, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5252-5154","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"George S.","family":"Kamaris","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9623-4060","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Khalid","family":"Hashim","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK"}]},{"given":"William","family":"Atherton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5526-7536","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patryk","family":"Kot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Built Environment and Sustainable Technologies (BEST) Research Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2019,11,26]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Staszewski, W. 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