Design of DGS Sensors for Monitoring Humidity in Civil Construction Materials
DGS, planar sensor, humidity, civil construction.
Humidity monitoring is essential in the construction industry to ensure the durability of materials and prevent structural problems. In this study, the analysis and development of planar structures using the defect ground structure (DGS) technique and two-port resonator, for sensing applications, are performed. The operating principle consists of varying the resonant frequencies of the studied elements when the relative permittivity of the material under test (MUT) is changed. The effectiveness of the sensor is proven through the analysis of materials with previously known dielectric constants that validate its applicability. In this project, its application is directed to the determination of the percentage of water present in two samples of dry sand and to the monitoring of water loss in three specimens made of mortar. The prototype was manufactured and the preliminary results obtained in the measurements were compared with the results of other works, certifying the effectiveness of the presented sensor.